Gold Coast co-captain Greg Bird is no stranger to off-field controversy and has urged Indigenous All Stars teammate Ben Barba not to rush back to the NRL.
Bird was sacked by former club Cronulla for an incident involving an ex partner, which saw him convicted and later acquitted of assault.
The backrower was forced out of the NRL for a period, before returning to the Titans and quickly re-establishing himself as a rep star.
Barba was on Monday suspended indefinitely from Canterbury and told by the Bulldogs to fix problems in his personal life – which reportedly relate to drinking and gambling.
Bird and his co-skipper at the Titans Nate Myles are proof that bad boys can turn their careers around.
“I think just take your time with it. Get it all out, not in the public eye, but get it out internally with your family and all those involved and come back when you’re ready,” said Bird.
“I’m disappointed for him and his family that it’s blown out in the media that he has problems.
“No one wants to come out and say you have problems. But I’m glad he’s being looked after now, and hopefully he can sort it out.
“I know I’ve been there. It’s not a great time but I’m sure his family are right beside him and helping him through it and regardless of whether he gets back on the field or not hopefully he’s happy in what he’s doing.”
Bird played alongside Barba at the start of the month in the Indigenous All Stars emphatic win over the NRL All Stars, where Barba was a three-try man-of-the-match.
He said the dynamic Canterbury fullback showed no sign that his life was spiralling out of control.
“No I didn’t (pick up on it). It was something that shocked me because I didn’t notice anything different,” Bird said.
“When he ran out and carved up and won man-of-the-match he was the same old Benny Barba.”
Myles was sacked by former club the Sydney Roosters in 2011, but last year was one of the best performed players in the NRL and in State of Origin.
Many predicted Barba would this year join Myles in the Queensland Origin team, but the Titans hard-man said rugby league should be on the back burner for his mate.
“I’m a friend of his and I wish the best for him and his family,” Myles said.
“Football is probably the last thing on his mind at the moment. There’s a life after footy and his kids and that are there so I’m sure they’re his focus.”
