Rhinos criticise Bird deal

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Bird, who has been charged over an alleged assault on his girlfriend, was released by his Australian club Cronulla last week after the club had already suspended the player while the criminal case against him was being dealt with.

"The signing is a blow to the reputation of the Super League," Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington told the League Express newspaper. "Players banned in the NRL should not be able to simply sign with a British club. This is an example of impotence from the Rugby Football League."

He added: "We are talking about the credibility of the entire competition here. It cannot become a dumping ground for other people's problems."

Bird was snapped up by the Bulls in the face of competition from a host of English clubs, including Wigan, Warrington and Wakefield.

The terms of his release from Cronulla included Bird agreeing not to join a rival NRL club, while the NRL had also threatened to de-register him.

Bradford chairman Peter Hood hit back, insisting his club were within their rights to sign the player, who he says will be an asset to Super League.

"I think Mr Hetherington may be confused," he said. "I don't think Greg has been delisted by the NRL, as he suggests.

"My understanding of what has happened is that his former club have made it a condition of Greg's release that he does not play for another NRL club in 2009 - because they don't want him playing against them.

"I consider bringing his prodigious talents to the Grattan Stadium as a triumph that will help get more people wanting to come and watch the Super League."