Confusion may reign at Gold Coast in the wake of Greg Bird’s two-game ban but Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin believes the answer is simple – don’t lift in tackles.

Titans mentor John Cartwright on Thursday supported Bird’s call that players are confused about what they can do in tackles following the NRL’s crackdown on dangerous throws and lifting in the wake of Alex McKinnon’s career-ending spinal injury.

He felt Bird was treated too harshly despite successfully having a grade three dangerous throw charge downgraded at the judiciary on Wednesday night, cutting a potential six-week ban to just two weeks.

“I still think he (Bird) was a little bit hard done by but two weeks is better than six,” Cartwright said.

“Clarity over a lot of things is probably what’s needed for the players.

“I probably feel for them a bit. We’re changing a lot of rules recently regarding tackling.

“It’s a pretty simple game and we seem to be complicating it a little bit.”

After being ruled out of two NRL games and the May 28 State of Origin opener, Bird claimed there was “no black and white” on how to tackle any more.

However, Broncos coach Griffin believed it was clear what the NRL expected from players.

“I think everyone understands now that you can’t lift,” he said.

“I don’t think there is any confusion in that.

“From time to time there is going to be confusion in gradings whether they are high tackles or shoulder charges or whatever.

“The confusion him (Bird) and his club (may have) applied to the grading and they were vindicated – I am happy to go with that.

“But I think everyone understands you can’t lift in tackles.”