League: Bird wants 'Origin rules' after lifting charge

Nate Myles of the Maroons is picked up in the tackle by Greg Bird of the Blues during game three of the State of Origin series. Photo / Getty Images

Furious NSW back-rower Greg Bird has called for different rules to be used in State of Origin after being charged with a grade-one dangerous lifting tackle during Wednesday's State of Origin encounter in Brisbane.

Bird was one of four players charged by the NRL match review committee after he was deemed to have lifted Gold Coast teammate Nate Myles into a dangerous position.

Myles was also charged with a grade-one dangerous contact sanction after catching Bird with a raised forearm when running with the ball.

Bird, who suffered a 'stinger' in his neck following the incident, said neither he nor the Queensland prop should have been charged and said he had no idea how he was supposed to tackle any more.

"It's State of Origin and it gets tossed up as the toughest arena in rugby league. You pick someone up and land on their back and you get suspended," Bird said.

The Titans' star is facing a one-match suspension following the incident but will miss two matches if he fights the charge and loses.

It is the second time he has been charged this season with a dangerous lifting tackle, missing Origin I after being sidelined for two games for a challenge on South Sydney's Bryson Goodwin.

Myles won't miss any games with an early guilty plea, but NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds could miss three having been slugged with a grade-two shoulder charge for his hit on Will Chambers.

Queensland's Ben Te'o will also miss one game if he pleads guilty to a grade-one dangerous contact charge for a late hit on Trent Hodkinson.

"Neither me or Nate should have been put on report and, as for Joshy Reynolds, he's 80 kilos. All he has done is put his body in front of him," Bird said.

He also angrily hit back at claims from Mal Meninga that he took a dive in the incident that led to Myles being put on report.

"That's ridiculous. Can someone please explain to me how I am supposed to tackle?" he said.

"I bend my back, I get penalised. I go high, I get accused of taking a dive.

"It's stupid. Origin, we are all told, is a different game - there should be different rules.

"It's always been drummed up as the most intense encounter in sport. If that's the case, how can it be like every other game?

"It can't be adjudicated like a normal game. It's frustrating. If a bloke doesn't land on his head, you shouldn't get suspended."

AAP imc/ajw

-AAP