Not sure that's actually true as Carney had a number of convictions which scuppered his WP.

Crocker is still waiting but is thought likely to get the WP despite his single conviction for affray.

I'd be extremely disappointed if we were playing Jeffries out of position in the centres if Nero got injured rather than give Crookes a chance.

It wasn't his work permit it was his visa which wasn't approved. A WP and visa are two entirley different things but you need both to play in the UK.

If he signs, I would expect to mainly see him play stand off for us though.. simply due to the fact it is an area where we are weaker. I would agree that 13 probably suits his game better, but he is also a very competent stand off and has played it at both State of Origin and for Australia.

I'm still wary until it is confirmed and he is actually in a Bulls shirt though! I wonder when he applied for a Visa, is it conceivable that a visa was applied for several weeks ago?

Precisely. At the moment we have Jeffries as the only real 6 in the squad. After that you're looking at people who've "played it a bit" to cover for him, in the likes of Menzies, Solomona or Morrison.

As far as Loose Forward goes, you've got loads of players who would consider that their best or favourite position already, in Langley, Morrison, Menzies and probably Burgess.

Sorry, I was speaking generically and combining the two. The WP is issued by the Home Office and the visa by the British Consulate in Canberra. Still, it was number of convictions and whether any fines, penalties were outstanding that scuppered Carney

He got a visa to go to USA on holiday and they are allegedly stricter with visa's than the UK

You try getting the paperwork that allows you to work!! (as opposed to spending your money there)

Quite surprised at this news. His off field troubles are well known and it doesn't sit well with the Bulls family image. Of course he's innocent until proven guilty but I hope the club have covered themselves if he's suddenly absent for a while.

He's obviously a good player, for the team's sake I hope his head's in the right place and we get the test player and not someone who'd rather be back in Oz.

It's a bit of a gamble in my view, I hope there are plenty of clauses in the contract should things not work out.

IMO he'll go straight in at stand off.

Easy to be all holier than thou when Immigration wouldn't give Todd Carney a Visa and you didn't have the money left to offer Bird (if the report is to be believed). In fact wasn't Todd Carney one of the players that meant your squad was better than ours? Definately aint now.

The Giants have the money to sign Bird,but it would be waste of time because he will not be allowed a visa,so dont be getting your hopes up it wont happen.

I may be wrong on this but I thought that to work in Britain if you are an Australian national we have an agreement between the two countries that mean if you are sponsored by a british employer for a fixed period and have the correct skills you can get a working visa quite easily provided you are of good character. That means if you have a conviction within a certain length of time (don't know what that is) you are given special consideration. I have no idea what happens if you are awaiting trial during the period for which the visa is to be granted or whether the australian authorities would let you leave the country in the first place.

I'm only going off the news reports it may not be true.

I'm pretty sceptical about this happening myself. I can't honestly see Bird getting off the ground.

I saw a newspaper headline today saying "Bird strike brings down plane" and wondered what he'd been accused of now but it wasn't anything to do with him.

That only applies to jobs that are not easily filled by UK nationals.

if you care to check out my views on Bird you will see that i did not want us to sign =redhim - amended Bullpower - - a long time ago before you were even linked with him. I posted that view on the VT and Giants site ages ago.

so there is no holier than thou approach. Nor am i concerned about his criminal behaviour. I just have a big issue with men who hit women. Maybe you do not.

You are welcome to check but hey dont let the facts get in the way.


You will also find that i made a similar point as you have about squad strength two weeks ago. again you can check if you want to rely on facts

If he's found guilty, make all those comments you like. Until then, while he's still innocent by law, that's bang out of order. Do everyone a favour and sod off.

Agreed. I doubt very much that anyone on here knows what actually happened and is relying on media reports to form their opinions. Whether he joins the Bulls or not.. he shouldn't be labelled as a 'wife beater' when he has yet to be found guilty in court.

Beyond reasonable doubt criminal or balance of probability civil. I have heard a lot from friends in Australia and i am happy to stick by my views great player but bad man.


Anyway i will let you get on with and i will state what i said in my first post .

A great signing for you, good player but dont get your hopes up until he gets here.

Au Revoir

So your friends from Australia are in full receipt of all the facts are they. Or are the more than likely like the rest of us just picking up on what's been in the press.

So it's fine in this case then.

www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/399 ... FOR%20BIRD dated the 17th which is tomorrow. can this be classed as his visa has been approved.

www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/399 ... FOR%20BIRD dated the 17th which is tomorrow. can this be classed as his visa has been approved.

My Visa was pretty straight forward.

I'm shocked, really did not see this one coming at all! Let's hope he is over here as soon as possible.

A great signing but he will return to the NRL in 2010 IMO

Assuming the visa is a non-issue, we've got him. Excellent player and finally we have a top class half back to look forward to watching. Any personal issues can be discussed as far as I'm concerned after his trial and only then are they in any way important.

Interesting to see it's a one year contract with a further two year option. It doesn't seem to state whose option that is though, is it the club or the player who have that option to extend?