French relegation to influence Bird’s NRL future

GREG Bird is eyeing a return to the NRL next year as his club, the Catalans Dragons. face relegation from Britain’s Super League.

News Corp can reveal Bird’s manager Chris Orr has started reaching out to Australian clubs in case the Dragons are cut from the top-tier.

The French-based Catalans face a relegation playoff if they don’t win their remaining three Super 8s games.

Bird (pictured) will sit out the rest of the season after a four-match ban for a dangerous throw on Halifax winger Ben Heaton last weekend.

Orr will monitor Catalans’ matches closely and will ramp up talks in the NRL if the Dragons don’t make the Super League cut.

“I’m just about to start looking at (NRL) clubs for Greg,” Orr said. “If they (Catalans) get relegated to the second division, his contract is finished.”

Bird played in the NRL last season with the Gold Coast and Orr believes the former Test and Origin forward would excel if he returned.

“He is 33 and with the high performance and medical staff at clubs managing loads, it has certainly helped with players playing longer,” he said.

“The clubs are far more understanding of what is required every week to give their bodies a rest.

“I think you’ll see players playing longer, especially in the forwards.”