Wayne Bennett’s experiment with Jack Bird as Broncos halfback appears over

JACK Bird’s halfback dalliance appears over after Broncos coach Wayne Bennett catapulted Kodi Nikorima back into Brisbane’s No. 7 jersey.

The changes have been tough on Bird. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

JACK Bird’s halfback dalliance appears over after Broncos coach Wayne Bennett catapulted Kodi Nikorima back into Brisbane’s No. 7 jersey.

Nikorima will return to the position he started the season in after Bird failed to fire in four games alongside Anthony Milford.

Bennett’s latest selection curveball has continued a trend of constant changes as he searches for the answer to Brisbane’s playmaking conundrum.

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Bennett just can’t get his combination right. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Nikorima, 24, did not look like the halfback to snap Brisbane’s 12-year NRL premiership drought in the opening five rounds of the season.

He suffered a corked thigh and was replaced by Bird in Round 6 as the Broncos recorded a gutsy victory against the Warriors in New Zealand.

Bennett opted to stick with the successful Bird-Milford alliance upon Nikorima’s return, but Bird has been poor in his past three matches as he struggles with a sternum injury.

Bird will start at left centre in Saturday’s clash against Manly in the Suncorp Stadium double header.

Broncos legend Darren Lockyer said Bird was struggling with the constant changes.

“Jack isn’t a natural seven,” he said

“He has come to the club, he is a on a good deal and he is probably feeling the pressure of that. But he took a step in the right direction against the Bulldogs.

“The Broncos need to help Jack settle in the team. Since he has come back (from injury) he has played centres, five-eighth, halfback and lock.

“He needs four or six weeks of footy where his role doesn’t change week-to-week. Once he gets consistency with that, he will start to find the form we know he is capable of.”

The changes have been tough on Bird. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

It appears as though Bird may find that continuity he needs at left centre, a position he is not all that keen on playing.

Having signed a four-year deal worth $3 million, Bird was expected to feature at five-eighth or lock.

He wore the No. 7 jersey after Milford wanted his No. 6 back and produced error-riddled efforts in his past three games, prompting Bennett to shake up his team.

The ninth-placed Broncos will be looking to register a third straight win for the first time this year when they face the struggling Sea Eagles (14th).

Tom Opacic returns to the bench after being replaced by Bird while rookie forward Payne Haas has been named in the 17 despite suffering a concussion and ankle injury in last Thursday’s win against Canterbury.

“We’ve got a four-week block at home,” Broncos captain Darius Boyd said.

“We’ve had two wins on the trot. It’s important to have a few more wins and set ourselves up before the Origin period.

“It’s about playing to our potential and finding some rhythm. We need to keep improving.”

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