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Andrew Moore | 27/08/08 | 0
VIDEO - Greg Bird is finished at Cronulla
I think Cronulla has handled the very difficult issue of Greg Bird extremely well, powerfully, swiftly and professionally, and I don’t normally say that about clubs dealing with players who misbehave.
Some ill-informed sections of the media were lambasting the Sharks for putting out a statement on Sunday night, basically repeating what Greg Bird had told them, that whatever had taken place at his unit on Sunday morning involved strangers, and not him.
It was many hours later that he was charged by police, and I can’t say much about it obviously because the matter is before the courts, and will resume several days after the grand final.
Take my word for it though, Greg Bird won’t play for Cronulla ever again. He’ll be sacked after the court case, regardless of the result.
The Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia is a very good man. He’s a straight shooter.
His message to players is very simple, if you get yourself into any sort of trouble, call me first – and tell me the truth.
He and coach Ricky Stuart will feel slighted by what Greg Bird told them. If I know Tony Zappia, it will mean that it’s made Bird’s position at the club untenable.
Greg Bird is obviously innocent of the serious charges against him until proven otherwise in a court of law. But the Sharks won’t – and nor should they – accept being lied too, especially when it means putting the club’s reputation at stake.
And regardless of anything else, Bird has a lot to answer for in that regard.
Speaking of trouble, it seemingly continues unabated at Penrith, with a board meeting today to discuss the immediate future of coach Matthew Elliott, who it seems that several players, rightly or wrongly, just can’t cop.
Plus there’s Frank Prichard, who keeps talking about the possibility of leaving the club, and question marks about his shoulder injury which prevented him from returning to the field against Melbourne.
For all of that, somehow, the Panthers remain just one point out of the top eight.
He’ll be sacked after the court case, regardless of the result. The Sharks won’t accept being lied to...
Andrew Moore
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