Bird backed to fire in 2019
Renouf and Seibold expect big things from left centre
RUGBY LEAGUE: Brisbane legend Steve Renouf has backed Jack Bird to fire in the leftcentre position, as the former NSW State of Origin star prepares to make a careerdefining comeback with the Broncos.
Big-name import Bird will play his first game of rugby league in 287 days on Saturday night when he returns for the Broncos in their pre-season hitout against Wynnum Manly at Kougari Oval.
Bird was trumpeted last year as Brisbane’s star signing, only for his 2018 campaign to degenerate into a season from hell as he battled shoulder and sternum injuries that restricted him to just eight NRL games.
But after a pre-season free of injury, Bird has regained fitness and confidence under new coach Anthony Seibold, who will pair the former Shark with James Roberts in the centres this season.
Brisbane’s greatest left centre, scoring 142 tries from 183 games for the club, Renouf is certain Bird will atone for his nightmare debut season at Red Hill.
“I believe centre is his best position,” Renouf said yesterday. “Jack had a really frustrating season last year with injuries but he’s fit again and I’m looking forward to seeing him play this year.
“Jack belongs in the centres. He’s being thrown around all over the place but he has a natural ability to find the tryline.
“I like the fact he is quite robust – he reminds me a lot of Justin Hodges (former Broncos centre) in the way he approaches the game.
“Jack and James Roberts are going to be a lethal combination this season. If they get it together, anything can happen for the Broncos this year.”
Bird struggled for consistency last season, playing four positions in just eight games – left and right centre, five-eighth and halfback – as former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett tried everything to find a role for the 23-year-old.
Amid his injury woes, culminating in sternum surgery, Bird was rumoured to be considering a return to Sydney. But the new Broncos regime is determined to extract the 2016 premiership winner’s best.
Confident of his centre delivering in 2019 after an impressive pre-season, Seibold said Bird would get a brief hitout this week.
“It’s great to see Jack back – he will play 20 minutes against Wynnum as a starting point for this year,” Seibold said.
“Jack has done everything right. He has set himself up to have a good season.
“He’s in a really good headspace off the field.
“He has been energetic, he has a great personality and we all want him to achieve this year.
“I like Jack in the centres – left centre is the best spot for him in the team at the moment so he will get first crack at that position.”