Bird’s dangerous tackle downgraded

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GREG Bird will play for NSW in this year's State of Origin series.

That's the good news for Blues fans. The bad news is he will still miss for the opening game against Queensland in Brisbane on May 28.

Bird was successful on Wednesday night in having a dangerous throw charge downgraded at an NRL judiciary hearing at League Central.

Pick Your Greatest Origin Team - does Greg Bird make the cut?

Greg Bird tackles Bryson Goodwin. Source: FoxSports

No doubt Queensland will start bleating about a conspiracy once again.

Bird pleaded guilty but sought to have a grade three charge lowered to grade two.

NSW coach Laurie Daley said it was a victory for common sense.

"It's still disappointing he will miss a game but most people would agree it wasn't a grade three,'' Daley said.

"Greg's a big part of our team and we're looking forward to having him back for Sydney.''

Bird, the firebrand Gold Coast forward, will now miss two NRL matches and also Origin I, which falls during his suspension period.

"It's a massive relief to only miss the first Origin game," Bird said.

"I would have been heartbroken to miss the whole series."

Greg Bird arrives at the NRL judiciary at NRL headquarters. Source: News Corp Australia

The tackle occurred on South Sydney's Bryson Goodwin in last weekend's match at Cbus Stadium, Robina.

Had Bird, who has played 14 Origin games, been unsuccessful last night, he would have missed six games and the entire State of Origin series.

"Everyone in rugby league knows six weeks was too much," Bird said.

"I am very happy to have it taken back to two (games)."

Asked did he feel he may be a scapegoat due to the NRL's beefed-up rules on lifting tackles, Bird said: "I was concerned."

Greg Bird tackle on Bryson Goodwin. Source: News Corp Australia

The three-man judiciary panel — comprising Royce Ayliffe, Chris McKenna and Don McKinnon — ruled in favour of Bird, no doubt delighting Blues coach Laurie Daley.

Wednesday night was a massive gamble for Bird. He could have been suspended for an extra four games had he lost.

In evidence, Bird said: "It was a regulation hit and drive tackle. Hit around the hips and put him on his back.

"You get your arm around his knee, put him off balance and put him on his back.

"(When) I saw his feet come up, I realised his leg was getting high and I let him go.

"The impact pushed us both up. He was running forward, I was running forward, the force had to go somewhere."

Greg Bird of the Gold Coast Titans at the NRL judiciary. Source: News Corp Australia

Bird said the incident happened in a "split second".

NRL counsel Peter Kite: "They all do."

Bird: "That's rugby league."

Kite told the panel why he felt the grading was correct.

"He (Bird) gets the player to a dangerous position and throws player Goodwin to the ground and player Goodwin's head makes forceful contact with the ground," Kite said.

Kite stressed the amount of dangerous throws had increased this year. He said there were 10 in 2012, eight in 2013 yet already 13 this season.

Greg Bird in action for the Titans. Source: News Corp Australia

"Dangerous throws are completely unacceptable," Kite said.

Jim Hall, representing Bird, said Goodwin was not injured in the tackle.

"Player Bird releases his grip and dropped the player," Hall said. "It is our submission that he (Goodwin) landed on his back and shoulder — not his head.

"He wasn't injured. There wasn't a hand between the legs."

Greg Bird is put on report for a lifting tackle. Source: News Corp Australia

Hall showed the panel three similar grade two tackles committed by former Manly player Richie Fa'aoso, Wests Tigers' Tim Simona and Gold Coast's Matt White.

The panel took just eight minutes to reach their verdict.

Bird has played a role in the past seven Origin series, which NSW has lost. He will be considered as a lock for the final two games.

Re-live the hearing in our blog:

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