Jack Bird is facing disciplinary action following an incident in which he pulled the hair of Phoenix Crossland from the Newcastle Knights during a recent match. This confrontation occurred amidst rising tensions late in the first half between Bird’s team, the Wests Tigers, and the Knights.
With less than a minute left in the first half, tensions escalated further when Royce Hunt and Mat Croker clashed forcefully at a scrum, resulting in a penalty against Hunt. Commentator Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach remarked on Hunt’s disruptive behaviour as he attempted to slow the game down. Following this, another collision between Croker and Hunt saw the latter inadvertently knock the ball on, which drew both teams together again, with Bird and Crossland at the forefront of the fracas.
Although Bird was placed on report for his actions, this decision didn’t occur until the second half, with match officials noticing the incident via the video review system, known as the Bunker.
The game got off to an electrifying start, with Jarome Luai playing a pivotal role in the Tigers’ opening try, assisted by new recruit Jeral Skelton. Adam Doueihi increased the Tigers’ lead to 8-0 with a penalty goal before half-time. Newcastle’s coach, Adam O’Brien, was visibly frustrated during the first half but evidently motivated his team, as they emerged more determined after the break, culminating in Fletcher Sharpe scoring the first try for the Knights. Greg Marzhew further turned the tables, securing a lead for Newcastle in the 66th minute, leading to a final score of 10-8 in favour of the Knights.
Statistically, the Knights committed 15 errors, compared to the Tigers’ seven. Notably, the Tigers struggled defensively, missing 50 tackles throughout the match.
Looking ahead, Newcastle is set to face the Dolphins next week, while the Tigers will challenge the Eels. It’s expected that Bird will be available for selection, considering the historical precedent for such disciplinary actions. Hair-pulling incidents have been a recurring theme in recent NRL discussions, with players like Blake Lawrie and Tyson Frizell previously receiving fines or being controversially penalised for similar actions in recent seasons.
In summary, Bird’s hair-pulling incident underscores the ongoing challenges within the sport regarding player conduct, and it will be interesting to see how this case unfolds in the context of NRL’s disciplinary framework.