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Greg Bird’s sister says the Cronulla Sharks and the NRL share some of the blame for Bird’s assault charge, saying rugby league should do more to "look after" its players.

Bird was arrested on Sunday and charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm after an incident that left his girlfriend with cuts to the face and a fractured eye socket.

The 24-year-old has been stood down by the Sharks for the rest of the season, and is at risk of having his four-year contract torn up and being kicked out of the NRL.

But Lacey Bird, 19, says the club needs to share some of the blame, claiming Bird needed more support after being recruited as a teenager.

"A teenage kid has to go straight to an adult looking after themselves," Lacey Bird told The Australian.

"All the clubs really do is dump them at a home and tell them what training days they've got.

"They're not really looking after them. They're just dumping them at places. If they want to take teenage kids away from their families at such a young age, they should take responsibility for their actions."

But Sharks chief Tony Zappia has hit back at the comments.

"You need to remember that Greg wasn't stolen from his family," Zappia told News Limited.

"His family would have had some input into his decision to leave home and come to Sydney. I can understand his sister's concern because blood is thicker than water."

If they want to take teenage kids away from their families at such a young age, they should take responsibility for their actions.

Lacey Bird on the Sharks

Comments

28/08/2008 1:46:10 AM Obviously from the same nest! Posted by: Bonk of, Berry, Australia Reply

28/08/2008 2:12:35 AM no its not gregs fault nor is it Tims Smiths or Carneys or anyone elses its all everyones elses fault thats the way we roll in the NRL "the Blame Game" RL should be called get a grip good to see sharks and NRL getting these loosers out of it for good dickheads like that wouldnt hold down a normal job so get rid of em Posted by: nathan turner, gold coast, Australia Reply

28/08/2008 2:54:09 AM How many young players are doing the right thing out there.....it's all about acting responsibly and showing maturity.....Sadly both Lacy and Greg are seriously lacking in both departments... Posted by: Truth Hurts, Sydney, Australia Reply

28/08/2008 3:03:27 AM What a load of tripe. I think he needs to take responsibility for his own actions and stop blaming everyone else or trying to get everyone else to sort out his problems (eg. his flat mate, his club, his manager, his girl friend. ie. anyone but himself.) Posted by: Fred Flintstone, Bundaberg, Australia Reply

28/08/2008 3:05:05 AM It's a real shame that the 100th anniversary of the sport is going to be remembered less for on field heroics and the actions of an increasingly spoilt and morally bankrupt group of players. Modern PC society and the Tommy Raudonikis days of beers as a training technique are still too close to one another to give young guys who are recreating a lot of the stories their mentors talk about at the pub.You can't do that in todays 24/7 media savy society.Its getting desperate NRL. Posted by: Josh Nixon, Canberra, Australia Reply

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Greg Bird's sister blames Sharks for star's downfall

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