Bird stood down over glassing incident
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Bird is accused of smashing a glass in Katie Milligan's face. (ABC)
Cronulla Sharks NRL player Greg Bird has been stood down from his squad indefinitely after being charged with assault.
The five-eighth is accused of smashing a glass in the face of his 24-year-old girlfriend Katie Milligan during an argument at his Cronulla home yesterday.
Ms Milligan suffered a fractured eye socket and glass wounds to the eye.
She is seeing an eye specialist and may require surgery.
Bird spent the night behind bars after being arrested and charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution said Bird had been actively trying to deceive police over the incident and tried to blame another person called Mr Watson, who had received a text message while Bird was being interviewed.
Prosecutors argued Bird should not be granted bail because it was an extremely serious offence that carries a maximum penalty of 25 years.
But his lawyers successfully argued he was not a flight risk and said the prosecution's case was based on circumstantial evidence.
The magistrate granted Bird $5,000 bail on the condition he not contact Ms Milligan until his next court appearance in October.
Sharks CEO Tony Zappia released a statement at a press conference this afternoon.
"So as to not pre-empt the legal process, I won't be discussing any details of the incident nor matters which now have been referred to a court hearing on October 7," the statement said.
"Also, the club does not want to pre-judge Greg until we have had an opportunity to meet with him, his management company and his legal counsel face to face, however we are mindful that the allegations made by police prosecution at this point in time are extremely serious."
NRL chief executive David Gallop welcomed the team's move and says the ban may be extended if the allegations are found to be true.
"Certainly if these allegations are proven, then we are certainly in the territory of looking at not only his future at that club, but his future in the game," he said.
Sharks coach Ricky Stuart said the standing down of Bird was a huge blow to the team.
"I've become very fond of Greg over the last two years. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurting for him, I'm disappointed in what allegations there are," Stuart said.
