The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20041112031955/http://www.abc.net.au:80/sport/content/s1083587.htm

Last Update: Thursday, April 8, 2004. 7:16am AEST

Suspended ... Greg Bird (Getty Images)

Sharks lash Bird suspension

Cronulla chief executive Steve Rogers has accused the National Rugby League judiciary of trying to make an example of Sharks five-eighth Greg Bird.

Bird is reported to be devastated after the judiciary handed him a 10-match suspension for kneeing South Sydney's Shane Marteene in the head.

The judiciary panel said the penalty was fitted to the severity of the offence.

But Mr Rogers said the 20 year-old Bird had shown remorse and did not deserve such harsh punishment.

"Obviously there wasn't much consideration given to Greg's youth and his previous record, which is fairly impressive," he said.

"He's obviously been made an example of and it's a little disappointing under the circumstances."

Bird apologised to Marteene in the dressing rooms after the match and later wrote personal letters to him and to the Souths club.

Audio Highlights

Listen to the highlights from the Bulldogs' NRL grand final win over the Roosters (Real, October 3, 2004).

Grandstand spoke with Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes after their grand final victory (Real, October 3, 2004).

Grandstand spoke with victorious Bulldogs skippers Andrew Ryan and Steve Price and Sonny Bill Williams and Mark O'Meley (Real, October 3, 2004).

Grandstand spoke with Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett about the upcoming Tri-Nation series (Real, September 26, 2004).


Privacy \| © 2004 ABC [email protected]
	This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), Reuters, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time) AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight-Saving Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)