Jack Bird placed on report for hair pull as Knights produce comeback victory over the Tigers.

Jack Bird is facing potential disciplinary action after being placed on report for pulling the hair of Newcastle’s Phoenix Crossland.

Tensions flared late in the first half between the Tigers and Knights, with several incidents bringing players from both teams together. Just over a minute before halftime, Royce Hunt and Mat Croker clashed aggressively at a scrum near halfway, leading to a penalty against Hunt. Commentator Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach noted on ‘Fox League’ that Hunt appeared to be trying to slow the game down.

After the ensuing penalty, Croker and Hunt tangled again on the first tackle, and Croker lost possession while attempting to play the ball. This led to a brief scuffle involving both teams, with Crossland and Bird at the center of the altercation. However, Bird’s hair-pulling incident wasn’t officially noted until the second half, when the Bunker reviewed the footage.

The match saw an early impact from new Tigers recruit Jarome Luai, who set up Jeral Skelton’s opening try. Adam Doueihi extended the lead to 8-0 with a penalty goal in the 28th minute, a scoreline that remained unchanged at halftime. Knights coach Adam O’Brien was visibly frustrated in the coaching box during the first half and likely delivered a strong halftime speech. His team responded, with Fletcher Sharpe scoring first after the break before Greg Marzhew’s 66th-minute try secured Newcastle’s 10-8 victory.

Despite their win, the Knights committed 15 errors compared to the Tigers’ seven. However, Wests struggled defensively, missing 50 tackles.

Next week, Newcastle will face the Dolphins, while the Tigers will take on the Eels on March 15. Bird is expected to be available, given past precedents for similar offenses. Hair-pulling incidents have been a talking point in recent years, with Blake Lawrie receiving only a fine for a similar act in 2024. Tyson Frizell was controversially penalized but not charged in 2023, while former Knights captain Hannah Southwell was issued a warning for a similar incident in the 2023 NRLW Grand Final.