Jack Bird could move to halfback with Kodi Nikorima in doubt for Brisbane’s clash with New Zealand

BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett has turned up the heat on misfiring halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima by revealing big-money recruit Jack Bird is being considered for a five-eighth role.

Jack Bird. The Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Pic Peter Wallis

UPDATE: BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett has turned up the heat on misfiring halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima by revealing big-money recruit Jack Bird is being considered for a five-eighth role.

Bennett yesterday showed his hand with Bird, placing him on standby in the halves for Nikorima, who is racing the clock to be fit for Saturday night’s gruelling road trip to face the Warriors in Auckland.

Bird has started his career at Red Hill in the centres but he was pitchforked into a playmaking role at training yesterday, running plays with Milford while Nikorima had treatment on a corked thigh.

Nikorima will have a fitness test tomorrow and Bennett remains confident the pint-sized No. 7 will play, but the tactical move at training is compelling evidence Bird is a playmaker-in-waiting.

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Bennett is determined for the Milford-Nikorima alliance to succeed, but the playmakers must haul Brisbane out of worrying form slump or risk being unseated by $3.5 million man Bird.

“Jack is an option at five-eighth,” Bennett told The Courier-Mail.

“Look, it’s not my choice at the moment (to break up the Milford-Nikorima combination), but if we’re forced into that position, well ... I’ll make another decision.

“Nothing is permanent.

“Everyone seems to have a better theory than me at the moment (on the make-up of his halves), but Jack can play a number of positions for us, including fullback, centre, edge forward or five-eighth.”

At former club Cronulla, Bird played 23 games at five-eighth, winning 15 games for a 65 per cent success rate.

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Bird has struggled to get quality ball in his first three games at the Broncos and there is a sentiment Brisbane cannot afford to pay him $800,000 this year to be wasted in the centres.

Bird appeared to relish his revised role at training, speaking with teammates about which plays to run as he stationed himself on the right edge inside lethal centre James Roberts.

The NSW Origin utility has copped heavy criticism for his weight and below-par performances in the opening weeks, but a move closer to the ball could spark Bird into action.

Nikorima is in doubt for the trip to New Zealand.

“He went all right (at five-eighth) with a question mark over Kodi this week,” Broncos forward Sam Thaiday said.

“It’s good to have a player like Jack. He is a very different player to Kodi, he looks like he has all the time in the world, he looked like he was enjoying himself and having fun and that’s what we want him to do.

“That (closer to the action) is where he is most dangerous, we haven’t used him up as much as we could. He is still a bit hesitant most probably within our team and our structures at the moment.”

Bennett admits Bird would face a tough assignment against the Warriors if Nikorima is ruled out.

“It could get the best out of Jack. He would be challenged by it if he plays there,” Bennett said.

“The medical staff are confident Kodi will be OK, but Jack will be the go-to player if he’s not.”

Originally published as Jack Bird could move to halfback with Kodi Nikorima in doubt for Brisbane’s clash with New Zealand