GOLD COAST - Controversial star Greg Bird says the opportunity for a fresh start with an NRL club which has shown him compassion influenced him to sign an unusual four-year deal with the Gold Coast.
Titans chief executive Michael Searle outlined the contract at Skilled Park today, minutes before Birdtook part in his first training session under new coach John Cartwright.
Bird has signed a one-year deal for 2010 with three one-year options.
The unusually structured contract was approved by the NRL, and would allow the Titans to discard Bird if he were to breach club behaviour rules.
Bird is seeking a fresh start after being cut adrift by Cronulla in January and enduring a stressful court case which had it's sequel last month when a conviction of recklessly wounding his girlfriend was quashed on appeal.
The Origin and test player had been offered much more money by French-based Super League club Les Catalans than he will receive from the Titans next season but the money he earns will increase significantly if he stays with the club beyond 2010.
Bird and his girlfriend Katie Milligan admitted they initially lied about injuries she suffered in an incident at their Cronulla home in August 2008, blaming them on his flatmate.
Appeal judge Michael Finnane, who cleared Bird last month, accepted their evidence that her injures were an accident, caused when an "agitated" and "irrational" Milligan lunged at Bird with a glass in her hand.
"It hasn't been the most enjoyable 15 months of my life," said Bird after his signing was announced.
"I admit that I handled the situation totally wrong and I'm sorry for everyone involved.
"I'm looking forward to my time on the Gold Coast. I'm out of Sydney and I'm away from everything that happened down there."
Titans chairman Paul Broughton wrote Bird a letter which the 25 year-old said "blew me away" and made a big impact on him.
Broughton urged Bird not to go overseas and to stay home and deal with his issues with the help of the Titans' family support.
"A lot of the work the Titans put forward about the community and what they do and about helping me deal with what I've been through impressed me," said Bird.
"They stood by after what's been an awful time when they could have turned their back and taken the soft option."
Titans coach John Cartwright said Bird was the type of player who could help the club go all the way to the premiership title next season.
"He's an old school type player with the athleticism, speed and size of a modern player," said Cartwright.
The Titans players were all consulted, along with the club's sponsors and community groups in the area before the deal was done.
- AAP
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