Greg Bird reveals Gold Coast Titansshopped him to rival club as bitter fallout continues

GREG Bird has opened up about his bitter split from the Titans, claiming he was shafted by a club that shopped him to NRL rivals Newcastle without his knowledge.

Greg Bird’s fallout with the Titans continues. Picture: Jono Searle.

GREG Bird has opened up about his departure from the Titans, claiming he was shafted by a club that shopped him to NRL rivals Newcastle without his knowledge.

Bird arrived in France on Sunday to embark on a second stint with Super League club Catalans, where he will play three seasons before serving two years as an assistant coach.

But in the final interview of his NRL career, Bird spoke in the straight-shooting style in which he played.

He detailed his regret at losing the Titans captaincy over an off-field incident, but remains equally pained by the machinations that drew the curtain on his seven-season Gold Coast career.

Last week, Bird expressed his disappointment that the Titans failed to give him a fitting farewell after 129 games of service. But the wounds cut deeper.

Today, he lifts the lid on his true grievance - claiming Gold Coast bosses tried to secretly offload him well before the investigation into Anthony Don’s Byron Bay bucks weekend in September that ended his Titans career.

LEADER: Bird picks next Gold Coast captain

Bitter split.

“What I didn’t know is that two months before that incident, I was being shopped to Newcastle behind my back,” Bird said.

“Clearly I wasn’t in their plans for next season.

“I later found out the Titans were willing to pay a percentage of my wage if the Knights would take me. They said nothing to my face.

“The first I knew was when Newcastle rang and expressed the Titans would contribute to my release. I was pretty gutted when I found that out.

“I understand the professional nature of the game and how cut-throat it can be, but they only had to be honest.

“If the Titans came to me and said I wasn’t in their plans, I would have been able to accept it. Given what I did for the club, I felt I deserved that respect.

“The lack of honesty hurt.”

Bird endured a chequered career at the Titans. On the field, no Titan fought harder. In 2013, he won the Paul Broughton Medal. But off it, Bird was a walking headline. There was the weeing incident near a police car in 2014 that saw him fined $15,000 and axed as Titans captain. Three months later, he was embroiled in the Titans’ cocaine scandal, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing in court.

Then came the recent Byron Bay saga, where Bird claims he raced to the aid of a friend who was being bashed by a bouncer. He told the NRL integrity unit he feared for his friend’s life and used no force himself. But for a Titans club desperately trying to rebuild after two years of turmoil, the parties were on a collision course.

“The Titans were looking for reasons to get rid of me. Looking back, I understand why the pieces fell the way they did,” Bird said.

“I didn’t throw a single punch that night. I wasn’t charged by police. I felt the incident was totally exaggerated but it was just another reason for the Titans to force me out.

“I understand the game these days is about image. I accept my past indiscretions will count, plus all the negative media I’ve copped. But you get no credit for the hundreds of schools and charities you attend each year working to enhance the Titans image.

“I don’t think the Titans appreciated what I did. People say we get paid well. That’s true, but it’s not easy to go out there and get bashed when you are injured.

Bird says he put in more than he got back from the club. Picture: Jono Searle.

“I never shirked my responsibilities. I played injured a lot of times. I backed up after Origin games because I cared about the team and the fans, who were fantastic and I will always appreciate their support.”

Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said he hopes the former NSW and Test enforcer finds success and happiness in France.

“Greg gave great service to the Titans and we appreciated his contribution. We wish him nothing but the best in his career in France,” he said.

“As for Greg being shopped around, there are always inquiries being made by clubs who are getting their salary caps in order for the following season.

“It’s a well-known fact that some managers also shop their players around even though they are still under contract with their current club. It’s a two-way street.

“Greg had another year with the Titans and he would have been able to see out his contract if he wished, pending any action he may have faced as a result of the NRL integrity unit investigation.”

Bird admits he was a polarising figure, but the NRL hasn’t seen the last of him. The 32-year-old’s old-school toughness masks a rugby league student who plans to return to Australia as an assistant coach.

“I’ve always liked coaching,” he said. “I have completed my coaching courses and a TAFE course on youth management, and once I have done my apprenticeship in the Super League I will be properly prepared.

“I like passing on knowledge and trying to improve young players’ games. When I was at Cronulla, I helped the Gymea Gorillas in my early 20s and I’ve worked with the Titans’ junior development teams for the past few years.

“I know people will make judgements of me. Some people will say they love me and some will say I’m a wanker. That’s OK. I can’t control people’s opinions.

“I just tried to play as hard as I could to win football games. Thankfully, my manager was able to get the opportunity for me to play in France. I’m excited about the journey. I want success at the Dragons and hopefully my (former) Titans teammates make the finals next year ... they deserve that.”