Broncos star Bird braces for surgery

JACK Bird’s maiden season at the Broncos has become a nightmare with Brisbane’s $3.5 million recruit set to undergo a second bout of surgery.

The NSW State of Origin star will see a specialist on Monday for a treatment plan on a sternum injury that has plagued him for the past nine months – dating back to his stint at former club Cronulla.

The Broncos face the Sharks this Saturday night in Sydney and Bird, who has not played since round 10, was hopeful of being passed fit to confront the club he quit in controversial circumstances last October.

But he is no hope of taking on the Sharks and is now fighting to save his debut season at Red Hill as he braces for another extended stint on the sidelines.

The 23-year-old missed the entire pre-season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and Broncos medicos are resigned to him spending another four to eight weeks out.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett confirmed last night that Bird faced another trip to the operating table.

“We’re looking at getting more surgery for Jack,” Bennett said.

“We’re getting more advice so we need another specialist to look at him on Monday. I’m hoping his season isn’t over.

“They (Broncos medical staff ) are saying if he has the operation it could be six weeks, so there’s a possibility he could be back this year.

“But to be honest, Jack can’t play at the moment. He’s in pain. He’s no good for us if he can’t play to his potential.

“It (his sternum injury) wasn’t our doing, he came to our club with this injury. We need to get things sorted out for him.”

Bird was hailed as the bigmoney purchase who could help the Broncos break their 12year title drought. Instead, plagued by the pain of a sternum problem that won’t go away, he has endured a luckless campaign, failing to score a try in the eight games he has played.

Even if he returns this season, Bird is unlikely to recapture the peak condition that saw him play a key role in Cronulla’s 2016 premiership win.

Bird’s horror year has sparked speculation he wants out of the Broncos but Bennett insists the attacking dynamo will honour his four-year contract with the club.

Winger Corey Oates said Brisbane players were trying to lift the spirits of Bird, who recently admitted his confidence was shot by his injury battles and the burden of expectation.

“Jack is a good fella and a real larrikin,” Oates said. “There’s no issue with the boys. He’s fitted in well here.”