BIRD, DUGAN TELL TALES FROM THE SHARK TANK
BRONCOS’ BIRD SLAMS SHARKS BUT SHIRE DELIGHT FROM DUGAN
BRISBANE’S $3.5 million recruit Jack Bird believes he is under pressure to succeed next season and has slammed Cronulla over its handling of a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. Bird is looking forward to a fresh start in Brisbane after admitting he didn’t enjoy playing for the Sharks this year. “The Broncos is a new chapter for me,” Bird told News Corp. “You haven’t seen the best of me in the NRL.” But Bird believes his start to life as a Bronco has been delayed because Cronulla failed to undertake the tests that could have identified his shoulder injury sooner.
QUITTING CRONULLA
On the surface, Bird and Cronulla seemed a perfect match.
In three seasons in the Shire, Bird made his NRL debut, broke into the NSW Origin team and helped Cronulla smash a 49-year premiership hoodoo.
But after 66 games for the club, Bird became restless.
“To be honest, I felt I was stagnating at the Sharks,” he said. “I felt I could get better as a player. I wasn’t playing well towards the end at the Sharks, Shark so I felt I needed a change.
“Maybe the Sharks’ structures weren’t suited to me. I had h a good two years there but last la year I went downhill. I was probably a bit stale. I wasn’t enjoying enjoyin my football. I just look at the th Broncos’ style and they play a different structure and style of football to the Sharks.’’
THE SHOULDER BUST-UP
Bird is expected to miss the first month of the 2018 premiership after having shoulder surgery last month.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett slammed the Sharks for failing to advise Bird he required an operation. Cronulla medicos backed their rehabilitation plan for Bird.
“I’m disappointed at the Sharks,” said Bird, speaking for the first time about the issue.
“I had a good talk to the Broncos’ surgeon about my shoulder and he made it clear I needed the operation.
“The Sharks said you couldn’t see the damage on the first scan but I was disappointed they didn’t send me for another scan using the dye, which would have shown up the damage.
“They did what they had to do. At the end of the day, I don’t want to be bagging the Sharks, I’m looking forward now, but the fact I eventually needed surgery ... it has set me back a month.
“There’s nothing I can do now. They believed they were doing the right thing, but I kept telling them I was having pain.
“It was sore when I first injured my shoulder and I missed five games. When I came back for the semis, it wasn’t hurting as much, but I was still getting pain doing weights and bench pressing. All the ligaments at the back of my shoulder were torn and the bone was coming in and out, pushing against my back. The Broncos’ surgeon said I needed the operation.’’
The Sharks have strongly denied they mishandled Bird’s injury, saying the criticism was “ill-informed” and “without full knowledge”.
POINT TO PROVE
Bird will be one of Brisbane’s highest-paid players next season on an estimated $800,000.
“I know the Broncos expect a lot of their recruits,” he said.
“I’ve looked at our roster and I personally believe we can win a grand final here. That’s why I have come to the club. I have signed here for four years
“I want to bring some leadership and some experience to the younger guys coming through” .
JOSH DUGAN
and during that time I’d love to get another premiership ring.
“I’m looking forward to working with Wayne Bennett. I have known him since his days at the Dragons, but I was in the junior grades then. He has been very good as a mentor to me since I’ve signed, so it will be good to finally be coached by him.”
CENTRE STAGE
Bird has been linked with the five-eighth and lock positions at the Broncos but said he was excited at the prospect of forging a centre strike force with Broncos flyer James Roberts.
“I will more than likely start in the centres and I’m happy to do that,” he said. “All the talk about me not liking centre at the Sharks was a misunderstanding.
“I’m happy to play anywhere at the Broncos. I’m not a ball hog but, if I’m not in the game, I do tend to go missing.
“I want to play Origin again next year. I don’t think I’ll be popular with Queensland and Broncos fans if I’m wearing a Blues jersey but that’s OK, I can handle it.”