whilst I still have misgivings about the signing for his off field issues, the fact his GF ( the victim) is standing by him says a lot.
Cant believe club would make the annnouncement without eing pretty certain he'll get a visa. Some definite news about a potential arrival date would be good.

absolute top class player and really lifts us to the next level

But are you not one of the people on this board who would happily bring Leon Pryce.

I believe Deacon would be better suited than Jefferies to partner Bird. It certainly raises the potential of the Bulls in 2009. Will he have Visa issues?

T&A says he should be here by the end of the month. Fingers crossed.

I want Chesley B Sullenberger III to fly him in, just to be on the safe side.

Knowing Odsal in Feb he could probably land on the pitch!

If he can turn his hand to rhino-beating then he's in for mine.

One thing that hasn't really been discussed is what sort of shape is he in?

It has been quite a while since he has played a competitive RL match.. so even once he is over it could be a few weeks before he is up to speed. Let's be happy to have signed a quality player.. but not pin too much of our hopes on Bird alone.

yep - diff is leon was sentenced and served his sentence - cant hold it against him forever. If bird is found innocent then all well and good, if he's guilty then I have mixed feeling

brilliant signing, despite his supposed off field problems, im sure he'll be class on the field. biggest signing in super league this year. lets hope he signs on for 3 years.

Bit unfair that. I'm merely trying to point out that he hasn't been found guilty of anything yet. If he is then that's a different matter. I most certainly do have a problem with men that hit women.

Relying on facts he has been charged with three offences and is awaiting trial he hasn't been found guilty of anything yet.

I'd be a little worried about signing a key position player after the pre-season. However he's not the only half back we have so it's not as if we will be relying on him.
We can ease him in and use him to keep our current half backs fighting for their positions.
That can only be a good thing.

He's a great player but he hasn't trained with the club preseason and by the time he get's here the season will have started and he won't have played competitive Rugby League for six months. Then he's got a month and a half before he has to go back to Australia to face trial. Then he'll have to get back and try and fit into the squad again before the end of the season.

He's going to have to be some player.

Edit - Sorry hadn't read the posts above!

When will he arrive?

Is it true Bradford are being sponsored by Stella Artois?

really funny reading wigan/hudds/warrington forums how they never really wanted bird and what a poor signing he is - talk about sour grapes

Very good signing for you guys if he settles in and puts his problems behind him. He'll add some real quality to your halves which you needed. If Menzies plays in the backs you could be alot better than you were last season and could push up towards the top 3.

think we'll get a better idea of where we're planning on playing menzies after dewsbury game. With sykes and johnson left out of squad theres only crooks and nero as dedicated so I'd imagine theres a good chance we'll try menzies at . Although with lynch and burgess out as well he might have to do a stint at prop

I've heard he's beaten his demons.

They're hoping he'll be here by the end of next month.

Safe to say we've signed the most unpopular player in the Super League. This we be made even more so if he turns out to be any good.

Playing by the end of next month it says in the T & A Mac

I didn't realise that Leon, and Stuart, had been sentenced, and done their time, I must have missed that in the news.

was referring to leons prior misdemeanor- afaik pryce and reardon havent been found guilty of anything yet and if they are then my opinion on pryce returning to bulls would probably be amended. You can only judge someone on facts as proven in a court- not allegations in papers which may or may not be true.