Broncos’ Bird facing knee surgery again
MOMENTS after coach Anthony Seibold saluted Jack Bird’s triumphant return from a serious knee injury, the Brisbane star suffered a second ACL tear in as many years.
Broncos medical staff said Bird was likely to undergo surgery, after scans confirmed their worst fears yesterday afternoon.
Seibold had been full of praise for Bird before training yesterday, lauding the former Sharks star for returning to career-best fitness and earning first shot at the No.1 jersey for tomorrow night’s clash with North Queensland. Then disaster struck. Bird’s left knee – the same knee that required a reconstruction after he broke down in Round 9 last year – buckled underneath him in a tackle and he left the field in distress.
“Rugby league is a cruel game sometimes,” Seibold said in a statement after scans confirmed the tear.
“Jack’s commitment to his rehabilitation has been unwavering in his return from his last knee injury.
“He has had a tremendous pre-season and ticked all the boxes required for a great start to the year.
“All of his teammates and the staff at the Broncos are devastated at the timing and nature of the injury. The club will do our best to help Jack in his recovery and personal wellbeing, and provide him with everything he needs.”
No stranger to injury, Bird has been restricted to just 17 matches since moving from Cronulla to Red Hill before the 2018 season.
Yet the latest blow appears to be the cruellest for him, and the Broncos.
“He’s really important to us. In some ways he is like a new recruit for us,” Seibold had said before yesterday’s session.
“The thing I like about Bird is that he has been resilient over the rehab process and had a hell of a pre-season.
“It is a well deserved (No.1) jersey for Birdy and all the hard work that he has done.”
Speaking to media just days earlier, Bird sounded so confident he had finally ended his injury jinx that he joked he would not cut his questionable mullet until after Round 10 this year.
“I haven’t got past Round 10 the last two years, so once I get past Round 10 without an injury I’ll cut it,” he said.
Jamayne Isaako – initially set to come off the bench – will play at fullback against the Cowboys.
Brisbane have also lost prop Matt Lodge (knee) and new captain Alex Glenn (hamstring), ensuring the reins will be shared tomorrow night by club debutant Brodie Croft and 19-game forward Pat Carrigan on Friday.