Jack ripped for rebirth
Former NSW utility fit and set for epic campaign
JACK Bird has made a formidable statement at the Broncos, shedding his excess kilos with a bumper pre-season in a bid to atone for his disappointing debut campaign at Red Hill.
Hailed by experts as one of the most significant recruits in the club’s history, Bird endured a nightmare 2018 plagued by shoulder and sternum injuries which restricted his maiden Broncos season to eight games.
Compounding Bird’s onfield woes, he was buffeted by off-field speculation, with the former NSW State of Origin utility repeatedly linked to a return to his former club the Sharks.
But the arrival of new coach Anthony Seibold is not the only sign of change at Red Hill as a leaner and meaner Bird sets his sights on justifying Brisbane’s $3.5 million recruitment gamble. After two operations in nine months last season, Bird is now fit in body and mind.
He has shed more than 5kg as he prepares for a return to the centre position that made him a premiership-winner at Cronulla in 2016.
Veteran forward Sam Tagataese played alongside Bird in the Sharks’ grand final victory before moving to Brisbane and he believes the 23-year-old will hit back at his critics in 2019.
“Jack has started really well in pre-season,” Tagataese said.
“Last season he had a couple of injuries that mentally he was struggling with and for him to overcome that and start afresh for 2019 is a big thing.
“Last year the big thing for Jack was just jelling with the team. He had to gain that camaraderie with the boys and we were getting to know the type of bloke that he is.
“We are trying to help him settle in and make him feel comfortable and thankfully all the injuries are behind him.
“Jack can now work towards getting better for the new season.”
The Broncos were planning to deploy Bird at left centre before the shock sacking of coach Wayne Bennett recently. Games ..................................... 8 Tries ........................................ 0 Points ...................................... 0 Tackles ................................. 128 Hit-ups .................................. 56 Try assists ................................ 1