Bird’s wings clipped by new surgery
JACK Bird’s maiden season at the Broncos has become a nightmare with Brisbane’s $3.5 million recruit set to have a second bout of surgery in a crippling blow for the former NSW Origin star.
Bird will see a specialist on Monday for a treatment plan on a sternum injury that has plagued him for the past nine months.
The injury dates back to his stint at former club Cronulla.
The Broncos face the Sharks on 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 Bird 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 having a shoulder reconstruction and Broncos medicos are resigned to Bird spending another four to eight weeks in the casualty ward.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett last night confirmed Bird – who is on $800,000 this season – faced another trip to the operating table.
“We’re looking at getting more surgery for Jack,” Bennett said.
“I’m hoping his season isn’t over … 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.
“We need to get things sorted out for him.”
Bird was hailed as the bigmoney purchase who could help the Broncos break their 12-year title drought.