Leaner Jack Bird fit and primed to bounce back for Broncos
Jack Bird has made a formidable statement at the Broncos, shedding his excess kilos with a bumper pre-season in a bid to atone for his disappointing debut campaign at Red Hill.
Jack Bird has made a formidable statement at the Broncos, shedding his excess kilos with a bumper pre-season in a bid to atone for his disappointing debut campaign at Red Hill.
Hailed as one of the most significant recruits in the club’s history, Bird endured a nightmare 2018 plagued by shoulder and sternum injuries which restricted his maiden Broncos season to just eight games.
Compounding Bird’s on-field woes, he was buffeted by off-field speculation, with the former NSW Origin utility repeatedly linked to a return to his former club the Sharks.
But the arrival of new coach Anthony Seibold is not the only sign of change at Red Hill as a leaner and meaner Bird sets his sights on justifying Brisbane’s $3.5 million recruitment gamble.
Crippled by two operations in nine months last season, Bird is now fit in body and mind. He has shed more than 5kg as he prepares for a return to the centre position that made him a premiership-winner at Cronulla in 2016.
Veteran forward Sam Tagataese played alongside Bird in the Sharks’ grand final victory before moving to Brisbane and he believes the 23-year-old will hit back at his critics in 2019.
“Jack has started really well in pre-season,” Tagataese said.
“Last season he had a couple of injuries that mentally he was struggling with and for him to overcome that and start afresh for 2019 is a big thing.
“Last year the big thing for Jack was just gelling with the team. He had to gain that camaraderie with the boys and we were getting to know the type of bloke that he is.
“We are trying to help him settle in and make him feel comfortable and thankfully all the injuries are behind him.
“Jack can now work towards getting better for the new season.”
The Broncos were planning to deploy Bird at left centre in a devastating strike force with right-side speed machine James Roberts before the shock sacking of former coach Wayne Bennett a fortnight ago.
Whether Bennett’s successor Seibold upholds that plan remains to be seen, but the one certainty is Bird cannot afford another poor season as one of Brisbane’s highest-paid players.
“It’s always important for any person to perform,” Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough said.
“There is an expectation when you come from another club to the Broncos as a marquee signing.
“Jack has had his own issues with injury so for him, he has come back injury-free and has set his mind on some goals and getting in the best shape he can be.
“I’m excited about Jack. As a player, I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes (next season).”
Bird has been linked with the Broncos No.6 jumper but skipper Darius Boyd believes he can be lethal out wide.
“Centre is his original spot,” Boyd said.
“At the Sharks he was very good at centre. Jack is competitive and wants to do his best for the team. He’s a good guy to have around so hopefully he can find a home in the centres next season.”
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Originally published as Leaner Jack Bird fit and primed to bounce back for Broncos
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