Broncos coach Kevin Walters says Jack Bird may remain at Red Hill
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has revealed he believes Jack Bird has a place at Red Hill, as speculation continues to swirl that the former Shark is one of several big names on the chopping block.
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Brisbane coach Kevin Walters insists Jack Bird has a future at Red Hill amid speculation the luckless utility is set to be dumped by the Broncos.
Walters held his first recruitment-and-retention committee meeting on Friday where the panel discussed the composition of Brisbane’s roster and their salary-cap pressures for 2021.
Walters has promised seminal changes are coming to Brisbane’s roster with up to 10 players, including Matt Lodge, Brodie Croft and Bird, rumoured to be in the firing line following the club’s wooden-spoon season.
Storm recruit Croft has lost the No.7 jumper to Tom Dearden, Lodge has been linked with the Warriors and Bird must fight his way back from a third knee reconstruction.
Walters is exploring ways to free-up funds under the salary cap. Bird is Brisbane’s second-highest paid player on $975,000 next season, but he has had a shocking run with injury at the Broncos, playing just 17 games for the club in three seasons.
Before Walters’ arrival, the Broncos had given Bird permission to negotiate with rival clubs and his management had discussions with several Sydney clubs headed by the Bulldogs.
But Walters says he is not ready to give up on Bird just yet given the 25-year-old is just one of two players at the Broncos with a premiership ring.
“Jack Bird and Ben Te’o are the only players in our roster that have won premierships,” Walters said.
“I know there is talk about Jack being moved on but premiership players have a lot to offer.
“Jack has had a terrible run with injuries and in the short time I had with Jack as an assistant at the Broncos in 2018, he was a very confident player and very knowledgeable about the game.
“From my point of view, Jack is a premiership player and that says it all for me.”
Bird, who has snapped his ACL in consecutive seasons, will be fully fit for the upcoming pre-season. He was due to start as Brisbane’s fullback in round one last season and at his best, Bird can be a genuine match-winner for Walters.
But if the Broncos are looking to find extra room in their salary cap for a market raid, Bird’s near-$1 million salary is a consideration for Brisbane’s committee.
Earlier this season, Bird told The Sunday Mail he wanted to remain at the Broncos despite incessant rumours the former NSW Origin ace was eyeing a return to family in Sydney.
“I feel I owe the Broncos club and my teammates,” Bird said.
“I’m not giving up. I’m here at the Broncos and I want to stay at the Broncos and I want to play well for the fans because that’s what makes the game.
“The Broncos have stuck by me through this whole period. When I’m healthy again, I will give the Broncos everything I have.”
Walters’ plan for Milford captaincy
New Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is considering a captaincy bombshell with underfire pivot Anthony Milford in the frame to captain the Broncos next season.
The Sunday Mail can reveal current skipper Alex Glenn is fighting to retain the job with Walters revealing the captaincy will go under the microscope when he launches Brisbane’s 2021 pre-season next month.
Brisbane’s wooden-spoon debacle this year has triggered the need for a Red Hill revolution and as part of the regeneration plan, Walters will forensically assess his leaders.
Former Broncos coach Anthony Seibold axed Milford from Brisbane’s leadership group last season.
Milford, the highest-paid player in Broncos history on a $1 million deal, endured a nightmare 2020 campaign, battling a niggling hamstring injury and being crucified by NRL Immortal Andrew Johns for his inconsistent form.
But the Walters regime has sensationally catapulted Milford into the frame for the Broncos captaincy.
The 26-year-old Milford is off-contract next season and Walters believes an increase in responsibility could be the stimulus for the 180-game pivot to break the Broncos’ 14-year premiership drought.
“Someone has to step up as a leader and Anthony is the one guy I am looking to,” Walters said.
“I will be talking to ‘Milf’ about it over the break. He has played almost 200 games and he needs to lead.
“I am very aware of the talents of Anthony Milford. My job and our staff’s job is to bring him into the player that we know he can be.
“He has instincts that not many players have. We are watching Cody Walker tear apart teams for Souths at the moment and I believe Anthony can do that for the Broncos.
“He is a special player.”
If anyone can ignite Milford, it is Walters. He was Brisbane’s assistant coach and a personal mentor to Milford when the Broncos playmaker almost won the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2015 grand-final loss to the Cowboys.
Retired Queensland Origin star Johnathan Thurston had some off-field troubles during his career but North Queensland believed the captaincy would help him grow up. Thurston went on to become a champion who delivered the Cowboys’ maiden premiership in 2015.
Seibold appointed Glenn as Brisbane’s captain last season after axing Darius Boyd, but the 32-year-old forward is off-contract next year and expected to retire.
Walters has great respect for Glenn‘s achievements as a 267-game Bronco but wants to run the rule over all potential leadership options in pre-season.
“Alex Glenn is the captain as it stands and that’s fine,” he said.
“Alex has been a great player for the Broncos and he is a good leader.
“But having said that, I need to get in myself and work personally with the guys to decide who I see as our best leaders and then I will make decisions around that.
“As for our captain, I won’t be doing anything officially in that space until February or March. I want to get into the job and watch the whole squad in pre-season and assess guys day by day and see who are the best leaders there.
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“I‘m taking an open mind on the captaincy. I will be having a good look at every player and then I will make a final decision in consultation with a number of key people at the club.”
Milford was privately disappointed to be dumped from the leadership group last season and says he is keen to embrace more responsibility in his make-or-break 2021 campaign.
Asked if he aspired to captain the Broncos, Milford said: “I wouldn’t say no to anything. If it happens, it happens.
“I’m happy with the role I’m playing at the moment.
“I see myself as a leader that’s not in the leadership group.
“I’m almost up to 200 games. I’ve played a bit of footy. I’d like to think I know a bit about it and have some knowledge about the game.
“Consistency plays a massive part in that. I know I need to be better. That’s one thing I’ll be working on next year.”