Sport Confidential: Jack Bird back in the middle for Wests Tigers, Harry Grant’s lifesaving heroics
Wests Tigers recruit Jack Bird is set to turn back the clock with a positional switch - provided he is fit enough while Harry Grant has once again come to the rescue of a struggling swimmer. All in Sport Confidential.
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Star recruit Jack Bird has solved one of the Wests Tigers’ pre-season conundrums - where he has been earmarked to play next season.
Sport Con can reveal that Bird and coach Benji Marshall have spoken about him wearing the No.13 jersey and playing in the middle of the field as part of the revamped Tigers outfit.
“I have been training at 13 a little bit,” Bird said.
“That’s really up to Benji and the coaching staff but I think the chats I have had with Benj, he wants me to play at 13 and just try to get used to that role again.
“I played there at the Dragons a few years back but it has been a while since I played in the middle.
“That is the idea of me trying to get fit and get the lungs back to play at the capacity Benji wants me to play at.
“Obviously training and game speed are a lot different but I have been training well I think. The plan is to play at 13.”
Bird is among a slew of signings that have raised optimism at the Tigers as they prepare to end their three-year streak of wooden spoons.
The 29-year-old has returned to preseason in good shape with a point to prove after being let go by the Dragons with one year remaining on his deal.
HARRY GRANT TO THE RESCUE - AGAIN
Harry Grant has been hailed a hero after helping a young swimmer who was caught in a rip while swimming on an unpatrolled beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Sport Con understands that Grant was paddling back into shore after a surfing session when he noticed two swimmers in a rip at First Bay Beach near Coolum.
It is understood one of the swimmers informed Grant he couldn’t swim. The Melbourne Storm captain told the swimmer to jump on his board and the pair paddled back into shore.
A member of the public took to social media to praise Grant, who isn’t due back at training until after Christmas.
“Watched this bloke yesterday bring in a young fella who was struggling in the water near some rocks back to the beach on his surfboard,” Bradley Norris wrote alongside a post of the pair.
“Absolute legend.”
It’s not the first time Grant - the Storm skipper - has come to the rescue in the surf. While in camp with the Kangaroos for the recent Pacific Championships, he recalled how eight years ago he and his father Paul helped a family who were struggling at Port Macquarie.
Sport Con tried and failed to contact Grant about his latest act of heroics. Two things we do know about Grant though. One, as a former nipper, he would have encouraged everyone to swim between the red and yellow flags.
Two, we’re tipping the last thing the modest Queenslander wants to do is talk himself up.
WOODSY’S MESSAGE TO MG
Aaron Woods has walked straight off the football field and into the cutthroat world of breakfast radio.
Woods, who called time on his rugby league career in September after 270 games for a handful of clubs, will be part of Triple M’s revamped breakfast lineup alongside former Wests Tigers teammate Beau Ryan.
And one of the first people Woods sent a message to after the announcement of his new role was the man he will help replace, rugby league and radio legend Mark Geyer.
Woods hasn’t forgotten how he got his start on radio and who helped him get there. Geyer was as pivotal as anyone.
When Woods was still in the prime of a playing career that would span across five clubs, Geyer gave him a piece of advice that never left him.
“He just told me to never stop doing what I was doing, don’t say no to anything and keep showing up,” Woods told Sport Con.
“I have never forgotten that. MG along with Matty Johns and Gus Worland helped me so much.
“He was the first person I sent a text to this morning.”
Geyer responded with some kind words.
“He just said, ‘congratulations brother, enjoy the ride, it’s a fun one,” Woods said.
It’s also brutal. Woods has locked horns with some of the most fearsome forwards in the game over the past 15 years but he’s about to enter the trenches again.
Breakfast radio is a battlefield. A war zone. It’s as cut-throat as any NRL club. Woods, former teammate Ryan and journalist Natarsha Belling represent the new face of Triple M and they will go up against some familiar figures.
Sydney breakfast radio has become a haven for former rugby league stars.
Woods’ former NSW coach Laurie Daley is on Sky Sports. Penrith legend Greg Alexander is on SEN. Cooper Johns works on KIIS.
It will mean early hours and hard work, but Woods - who has three young children with wife Sarah Callaway - is relishing both.
“I have little ones - I’m already up early,” Woods said.
“Last year I was getting up at 5am every day to go to Manly training. I can’t wait for it. I love meeting people and talking to our fans.
“Beau is such a funny guy and Natarsha is a legend. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
VOLKMAN CLOSE TO NEW CLUB
Ronald Volkman is expected to make a call on his future on Friday after holding a second round of meetings with Parramatta over the prospect of joining the Jason Ryles revolution.
Volkman, hoping to revive his career after an injury saga stymied a proposed move to St George Illawarra almost a year ago, has also spoken to Cronulla over a potential move to the Sharks.
It is understood the Sharks haven’t progressed talks, leaving Parramatta with a free run at the young playmaker.
Manly were also in the mix for his services but it is believed they have now dropped out of the race.
Sport Con understands that Volkman’s manager Mario Tartak spoke to the Eels earlier this week and a decision on his future is imminent.
ENGLISH DUO IN VEGAS
Rugby league has touched down in Las Vegas ahead of the second instalment of operation America.
Sport Con can reveal that Warrington’s Matty Ashton and Wigan’s Kruise Leeming have taken to the The Strip as they acclimatise themselves to Vegas and familiarise themselves with Sin City.
The duo, who will face off as part of Super League’s involvement in the Vegas extravaganza next year, visited Allegiant Stadium to watch the Las Vegas Raiders play against the Denver Broncos last Sunday.
They also attended the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix, which was hijacked by NRL advertising.
Close to 30,000 tickets have been sold for the March 1 quadruple-header and the big news for Aussie fans still wanting to travel is there has been an influx of new airfares available from Brisbane and Sydney for as little as $1,200 return to LAX.
The football managers of the four NRL teams who will take part - Cronulla, the Warriors, Canberra and Penrith - have also flown to Vegas this week as they hold meet and greets with officials from Resorts World, where the teams will stay.
They will also visit the UFC Performance Institute, Allegiant Stadium and cast their eye over training facilities.
KNIGHTS ON THE UP
Newcastle recruitment guru Peter Sullivan arrived at the Knights fearing he would need to make major changes. Less than six months into the job and he has now reassessed.
O’Sullivan sees a squad that can challenge for a premiership with some minor tinkering and he lays much of the credit at the feet of coach Adam O’Brien and his staff.
“We’re are happy with where we are at,” O’Sullivan.
“The playing group are improving all the time and with a few key changes I think we can be a top four team.
“It’s not a rebuild, just a restructure - change a few contracts, bring a few players in key position and I think we are swimming with the big boys.
“The improvement in players has been pretty graphic.”
O’Sullivan points to Leo Thompson becoming an international since he moved from Canberra to the Knights. Phoenix Crossland has played for New Zealand. Fletcher Sharpe has become a legitimate first grader. So too has Dylan Lucas.
“Leo coming from Canberra is now a starting front rower and international,” O’Sullivan said.
“I remember watching Fletcher Sharpe in SG Ball and he is a genuine NRL player now. There is so much evidence of the players improving and it excites me for the future.
“Adam is a really good person who cares about his players and staff. It’s not just him though - it’s the entire coaching group.”
BRONCOS CLOSE IN ON OUTSIDE BACK
Melbourne are set to refuse any attempt by Brisbane to get their hand on Grant Anderson for next season after the Storm utility agreed to join the Broncos in 2026.
Anderson played 14 games for the Storm last season, switching between centre, wing and the interchange bench. He even played one game at halfback.
He helped himself to eight tries and looms as a key signing for the Broncos in 2026 given the potential loss of centres Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo, who are both off contract at the end of next season.
They will have to wait though. The 24-year-old has 12 months left on his deal with the Storm and Melbourne have made it clear that they will not consider an early release.
DCE’S BIG DAY
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans is tying the knot as he prepares to marry long-time partner Vessa Rockliff on Friday.
The Manly skipper and Rockliff have one of the NRL’s longest relationships, striking up a partnership more than a decade ago.
They have been together for the majority of his 329-game NRL career and are parents to three daughters – Navi, Harvie and Tully.
Cherry-Evans, 35, has long sported a wedding band tattoo on his left ring finger. Now a formal wedding is on the cards.
A host of rugby league royalty are expected to attend the event.
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