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Bird seeks downgrade on high-tackle charge

Gold Coast's Greg Bird will fight a grade-two high tackle charge at the NRL judiciary, while Cronulla's Luke Lewis has accepted a one-match ban.

Gold Coast Titans playmaker Greg Bird
Gold Coast's Greg Bird will fight a grade-two high tackle charge at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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He's the fourth most suspended player in NRL history but Gold Coast firebrand Greg Bird is set to test his luck again before the judiciary.

The former Titans captain will attempt to have a careless high tackle charge for a heavy late shot on Cronulla's James Maloney downgraded on Wednesday night.

The NSW and Australian back-rower was hit with a grade two charge but is contesting that in a bid to take on St George Illawarra at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Given he would have missed one game even with an early guilty plea, Bird has nothing to lose.

He hit Maloney high after he passed the ball, leaving the Sharks playmaker concussed.

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Should Bird fail with his challenge, it will take his carrier suspension tally to 30 weeks.

He already suffers the ignominy of being one of the most suspended players of all time, behind only John Hopoate (45 weeks), Luke O'Donnell and Craig Smith (both 32 weeks).

He missed all of last year's State of Origin series after being rubbed out for eight weeks for a lifting tackle on New Zealand winger Jason Nightingale during the ANZAC Test.

Meanwhile Sharks veteran Luke Lewis has taken the early guilty plea on his shoulder charge sanction and will miss his side's trip to Canberra on Sunday.

The back-rower would have risked missing two matches by challenging the charge at the judiciary.

Elsewhere, the Dragons' Gareth Widdop and Manly's Dylan Walker have each pleaded guilty to grade-one tripping charges but have avoided suspension.

Canberra's Shaun Fensom and Joseph Tapine are also free to play against the Titans this weekend after pleading guilty to a lifting tackle on Parramatta's Michael Gordon.


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