Bird just relieved to keep job
GREG BIRD would have been fighting for a job had Catalan Dragons not won Saturday’s Million Pound Game.
The French club retained their Super League status in a tense relegation shoot-out, beating Leigh 26-10.
It all ended in tears for the hosts as they fell back into the Championship just 12 months after returning to the top following a 10-year absence. But there were tears of relief for the Dragons, several of whom said there was little to celebrate amid the devastation it had caused Leigh.
Bird, 33, said: “I’ve played in some big games but I’ve never had to play for my job.
“When you hear so much about player welfare, for 30 blokes to potentially have their contracts torn up, that’s way worse than having to worry about people’s concussions on the field.
“It’s not just me and the players – it’s our families, wives and kids.
“We moved to Super League from Australia and relocated, so to try to pick up a contract at this time of year would have been tough.”
Leigh’s ill-discipline cost them with Lewis Tierney, son of Jason Robinson, scoring twice for the Dragons.
Leigh captain Micky Higham said: “I feel I’ve let everybody down. Catalans taught us a lesson and we fell into the trap of dropping the ball and giving penalties away.”
Centurions boss Neil Jukes felt “empty” but, crucially, owner Derek Beaumont will continue to fund the club. ❑MELBOURNE Storm beat North Queensland Cowboys 34-6 in the NRL Grand Final and will face Castleford or Leeds in the World Club Challenge in February.