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?

Personally I'm disappointed, he's a class player, but this smacks of us taking up the responsibility/pay for a player who hasn't an option in the NRL until 2010 when he'll happily return. Spending a fortune on a player who may be on trial in Auz for a crucial part of the season (if we can believe the papers) seems an odd choice to me.

And as for ME's 'I'm not bothered what they do off the park' remark, well, that about sums him up. I'm happy to stick with innocent until proven guilty but everything about this, and Cronullas stance makes it look problematic. It could make the Harris deal look clean cut before it's over.

We'll see, hope I'm wrong.

LMAO at "the worlds greatest talents" bollox.
Good player but will he be here because he has to be or because he wants to be?
We all know why, although now if he does get clearence you will finish at least 5th rather than 7th!!

Call for Mystic Eddie? Is there a Mystic Edddie on the boards?



Assuming all this comes off (visa's et al), you've surely got to be A) a bit excited about the prospect B) Impressed with Mr Hood C) Assume Mr Bird has some faith in Macca, nes pas?

EDIT - Bugger. Just read your earlier post. Top man for that ME.

Great signing for Bradford will be one of the top players in the League next year. Personally gutted Wigan did not snare him, look forward to watching him in 09.

In my opinion makes you real contenders for a trophy this year.

Massive signing and credit to the club.

Ussually an option is given by one party to an other to buy should certain circumstances occur. I'm guessing here but the scenario might be that due to there being few serious contenders for his signature this year that we have him on a fairly low 1 year deal with an option to purchase a further 2 years at a higher amount. Perhaps there are other possibilities but I don't see what the club would gain by giving Bird the option to stay for 2 years if he wants or leave if he wants. That basically means if he's rubbish he can stay for 3 years and if he's great he can leave after 1. Doesn't make sense.

As far as visa's are concerned we'll have to wait and see. There must be something in the contract about being available to play so if, and it is an if he is found guilty and cannot complete his obligations then the Bulls can sack him.

With Lynch out, Langers to prop and Bird to 13. It's not without it's dillemmas and possible pitfalls but exciting or what!!!!

COME ON YOU BULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!