Broncos join race for Jack Bird but Ashley Taylor remains No. 1 recruitment target

THE Broncos have expressed interest in signing off-contract Cronulla utility Jack Bird, but that hasn’t changed Brisbane’s No. 1 recruitment target.

The Broncos have expressed interest in Cronulla utility Jack Bird. Picture: Gregg Porteous

TITANS sensation Ashley Taylor remains Brisbane’s No. 1 recruitment target despite the Broncos expressing interest in Cronulla utility Jack Bird.

Bird’s management has fielded overtures from the Broncos, who are scouring the marketplace for a playmaker to replace Dragons-bound No. 7 Ben Hunt next season.

But the Broncos appear an outside hope of securing Bird, with the club unable to match Newcastle’s huge $900,000-a-season offer.

The Broncos have expressed interest in Cronulla utility Jack Bird. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The Sharks are resigned to losing the hard-running Bird and expect him to announce his defection to Newcastle this week.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett declined to comment but confirmed he had held discussions about the prospect of signing Bird.

Ashley Taylor remains Brisbane’s No. 1 recruitment target. Picture: Richard Gosling

One scenario for the Broncos is playing Bird at five-eighth next season in a move that would see star pivot Anthony Milford, who is on the verge of signing a three-year upgrade, shifted to halfback.

But with the Knights closing in on Bird, Bennett is likely to push forward with his plan to poach Taylor from the Gold Coast.