GOLD Coast officials believe their record of helping players overcome off-field issues should convince the NRL to let them sign Greg Bird.
With Judge Michael Finnane yesterday quashing Bird's conviction for glassing his girlfriend Katie Milligan, the only thing preventing the former Test five-eighth from playing in a Titans jersey next year is the NRL's reluctance to register his contract.
The Cowboys are also interested in the 25-year-old international, and have more money available after recently releasing Travis Burns to Penrith, but talks between the Titans and Bird's management are believed to be well advanced and Bird has a good relationship with Gold Coast coach John Cartwright.
After being forced to spend last season in France playing for Catalans while waiting to learn whether he would have to serve the 16-month jail sentence initially imposed, Bird is understood to want to be close to his family in Maitland but has told Titans officials he did not want to return to Sydney.
The Knights are not interested in luring their former junior back to the club.
The Newcastle-born West Maitland product played three seasons in the Knights' Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Jersey Flegg junior representative teams before Cronulla signed him at the end of 2001.
"We don't have any room under our salary cap, and we don't have a position for him on our roster, realistically," Knights football operations manager Warren Smiles said.
It is understood the Knights would not want Bird even if they had a position available because of his controversial reputation, but neither Smiles nor Knights chief executive Steve Burraston would comment when that was put to them. Bird was last night celebrating the court decision at a private party in Sydney but is expected to want to finalise his future quickly after being in limbo since being stood down by the Sharks when charged in August last year and agreeing to a release earlier this year.
To rejoin the NRL, Bird would have to accept a significant drop in his $400,000- a-season deal with Catalans.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said any club wanting to sign Bird would be held accountable if he again found himself in trouble.
"He's been through a difficult time, no doubt, but he's had issues before," Gallop said. "He would fall into a category of a player that we would be looking for any prospective club to give us an idea of how they're going to deal with him."
Titans chief executive Michael Searle pointed to the way the club helped Chris Walker turn his life around.
"The club has a good track record of working with players who have had previous off-field issues, and we are interested in talking with Greg and his partner to see where he believes his future may be headed," Searle said.
Cartwright added: "He is the type of player who offers a lot. He is a winner, he is 25 years of age and his best football is in front of him."
Bird's manager Gavin Orr said no decision had been made about his client's future because Bird had been unsure where he would be sleeping last night until he heard the judge's verdict on his appeal delivered in court.
"He is extremely relieved," Orr said. "He has been through a very tough time and is just glad it is over.
"It has been more than a year of his life.
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