Sorry Bird vows to change tackle methods

By Ed Jackson

May 8, 2015, 2:18 pm

 

Bird ban should include Origin: Titans

A contrite Greg Bird has vowed to fix his tackling technique in the wake of his eight-game NRL ban.

Bird says fatigue and a lapse in concentration contributed to the lifting tackle on New Zealand winger Jason Nightingale late in Sunday's Test which earned his latest suspension.


But, after three similar dangerous tackle incidents since 2013 contributed to his hefty penalty, Bird said on Friday he had to change.
The controversial forward, who is also battling charges of cocaine supply in court, addressed his Gold Coast teammates before training, telling them he hoped his lengthy absence from the field wouldn't not hurt the Titans' bid to make the NRL finals for the first time in five seasons.
He also explained his thoughts on his tackling problems to the Titans website.
"When I was young, a kid 20 years ago, you get taught to hit under the ball and to drive," he said.
"There's so many things that can come into it now and go wrong.

"There's other players in the tackle dragging them down and, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have to address my technique.
"(It was the) 74th minute in a Test match - I was tired and fatigued - you have that lapse in concentration and go back to what you've been doing for years.
"Just having that awareness and keeping your concentration is something I have to work on moving forward."
Bird is now one of the most suspended players in NRL history given he'll have served a total of 29 weeks on the sidelines by the time he returns in mid-July.
The current ban has also made him ineligible for NSW for the entire State of Origin series.
Bird said he accepted he did the wrong thing but he remained adamant the grading of the charge was out of step with the offence, despite failing in an appeal to get it reduced.
Titans coach Neil Henry called for Origin fixtures to be considered for inclusion in Bird's ban, as the incident occurred in a representative game and Bird is a regular member of the NSW team.
"He's not a fringe player. He's an incumbent player and, being fit, he would be picked (for NSW). We know that," Henry said.