Broncos star Jack Bird gets Andrew Johns’ early endorsement for NSW Origin No.6 role

JACK Bird has emerged as the X factor in the NSW Origin halves debate ahead of his showdown with Cameron Munster on Friday night, with one leading pundit saying ‘he would be in my team’.

Jack Bird could fit the NSW five-eighth bill just nicely.

JACK Bird has emerged as the X-factor in the NSW Origin halves debate ahead of his showdown with Cameron Munster on Friday night.

Fitting the big bodied frame of some of the Blues’ greatest ever No.6s, including Brad Fittler, Laurie Daley and Trent Barrett, NSW legend Andrew Johns declared this week that Bird would be the player he’d pick to partner James Maloney.

Bird will be out to back up his impressive performance playing five-eighth in Brisbane’s win over the Warriors when he takes on Melbourne, and goes head-to-head with the man tipped to wear the Queensland No.6 jumper in Munster at Suncorp Stadium.

Jack Bird could fit the NSW five-eighth bill just nicely.

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Until now, Bird’s name hasn’t even been mentioned in the Blues halves discussion with the most talked about options to partner Maloney being Luke Brooks, Luke Keary, Blake Green or Mitchell Pearce.

Nathan Cleary will also come into the mix if he can return early enough from the knee injury that has sidelined him since round three.

And Cleary’s combination with Maloney at Penrith would only benefit his chances.

But Wayne Bennett’s decision to shift Bird closer to the action last week has opened up a huge opportunity for the tough 23-year-old.

While Bird will need to prove himself in the halves consistently over the next five rounds before Fittler picks his team, Johns obviously thinks his size and toughness would be a huge advantage for NSW.

“If I had to pick my team tomorrow I’d go with (James) Maloney at seven, and Jack Bird at five-eighth,” Johns said on a Channel Nine podcast.

Bird is almost the exact weight and height as Fittler, Daley and Barrett during their playing days.

Bird weighs 96kg and is 183cm in height.

Former Blues star Trent Barrett.

Laurie Daley tipped the scales at 92kg.

Fittler’s was 96kg and 186cm, Daley 92kg and 183cm and Barrett 94kg and 183cm.

Bird has only had four games back from a shoulder injury but his move to five-eighth helped lift the Broncos to end the Warriors’ unbeaten start to the season.

While Bird is up against Munster, Brooks and Pearce go head-to-head when Wests Tigers play Newcastle in Tamworth on Saturday.

The jury is out on whether Brooks is ready for the step up to Origin.

Cooper Cronk said this week he’d like to see Brooks guide the Tigers to a finals series before he was thrown into Origin.

But Ivan Cleary was of the opinion after Brooks’ man-of-the-match performance against Manly that the 23-year-old’s form, that sees him lead the Dally M Medal count after six rounds, suggests he should be in the conversation.

Fittler is playing his cards close to his chest, knowing injuries and form could swing the debate plenty of times before it’s time to pick his team for the opening Origin in Melbourne on June 6.

Originally published as Broncos star Jack Bird gets Andrew Johns’ early endorsement for NSW Origin No.6 role