Jack Bird Discussion

[Morkel]

Someone ( I can't remember) on here the other day made a comment about Hodgos ability to personally drag the team to a victory through sheer aggressive will.
It's probably the difference between the 2015 side and the team that turns up on Friday night, someone that wants to win at all costs.
I see this in Jack Bird. Hard, skilful and plays his guts out.
I don't know the exact figure of deal but I do know what he will bring to the team.
IMO best signing for a long long time.
Just need a weapon of a prop to give the opposition a few nightmares now.

 

[Stix]

Ha, sorry mate couldn't be bothered going looking for it to quote... You were spot on though, bit of a light bulb moment for me. Been scratching my head for the past few seasons wondering WTF happened to the 2015 side... No Hodgo... We have a side full of experience and potential leaders but no one is taking control like he did.
He was guilty of over doing it a few times and trying too hard but **** you couldn't question his passion and commitment

 

[theshed]

Who should we have bought who was off contract at around his price range? Most halves are absolutely terrible yet are on huge money due to desperate clubs.

Oh I wasn't trying to imply Bird was a bad decision or that there was any options in those other positions.

I was just saying that even though I think Jack is a great player, I would have been more excited if the news were that we had signed a Taumalolo, or Ash Taylor type super star, a player of Birds talent but in a position that we are really lacking.. I think Bird is a great player and am very happy to have him, but the excitement levels don't quite match Milf's signing during a time when we had no havles.

 

[broncos4life]

So just to confirm we still have no idea about Bird's contract value, yet we are certain we paid overs?

 

[holdzy]

So just to confirm we still have no idea about Bird's contract value, yet we are certain we paid overs?

Of course, Jake. This is Chinatown.

...I mean Brisbane.

 

[gordjw]

He did score a cracking try in the loss to the Cowboys last weekend

 

[jarro65]

He'll provide that 'mongrel' for us ..... ultra competitor who should keep the energy up for the whole team for the full 80 minutes.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

"I wish the broncos played with the passion/determination of the cowboys/storm, then we'd be unstoppable"

Outside of jonothan Thurston and billy slater bird is the greatest competitor on the field currently in the nrl. The bloke plays top level nrl with rheumatoid arthritis! That is no small accomplishment. I think it's well controlled now but it would have taken years to get the medication dose right while he played in constant pain. He won't be the best player we have ever recruited, no doubt, but he will bring something everyone on this forum constantly begs the team to have-never give up attitude.

Lazarus wasn't our greatest player but he taught the team what was needed to win a premiership on the field. I honestly believe bird is of a similar breed. He might give us 7/10 performances skill wise but he will lift the performances of every other player on that team by 10%.

 

[Super Freak]

Bird brings a good attitude and a competitive edge that could rub off on everyone else.

Attack wise, he doesn't really bring 750k's (reportedly) worth. We may have paid overs for him, we'll find out. But even at his best at Cronulla, he wasn't a 3/4 of a mil (reportedly) player.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Bird brings a good attitude and a competitive edge that could rub off on everyone else.

Attack wise, he doesn't really bring 750k's (reportedly) worth. We may have paid overs for him, we'll find out. But even at his best at Cronulla, he wasn't a 3/4 of a mil (reportedly) player.

So who is worth the money? We lost our first 3 games this year by 1, 2 and 3 points this year or something from memory. That game last week or even the 2015 gf (blasphemy I know), I want a bastard who would run a marathon on broken glass just for a chance to not lose. We may not have won any of them with him there but I can guarantee you there will be a lot less wondering "what if" by the players after. That's bird, Thurston and slater. So unless we have another extra million hanging about it looks like bird will do for me. Bennett will know you can't coach what bird has into players. People go on about us lacking size in the forward pack or a kicking game or organisational skills. It hasn't been ANY of those things that have lost us a premiership in the last minute, the game in the last 5 mins of a semi final, got 50 points put on us 2 weeks from the finals, or lose games constantly in golden point or by 1 point: it's our attitude that we don't want to win enough or don't feel we deserve too! Bird may not fix this on his own, but unfortunately it is a much smaller gamble then hoping our current players change their attitudes without a fresh face to ignite it. We have the best motivator and man manager in the game with 40 years experience in coaching and we have psychologist and are constantly reinvigorating our coaching staff-None of it has lifted these mentally weak players

 

[broncos4life]

I have never misunderstood your argument, I just don't understand the speaking in definites about a hypothetical. In either case I'll leave it there.

 

[Battler]

Oh I wasn't trying to imply Bird was a bad decision or that there was any options in those other positions.

I was just saying that even though I think Jack is a great player, I would have been more excited if the news were that we had signed a Taumalolo, or Ash Taylor type super star, a player of Birds talent but in a position that we are really lacking.. I think Bird is a great player and am very happy to have him, but the excitement levels don't quite match Milf's signing during a time when we had no havles.

Yeah JT13 and Taylor would be nice, for the right sort of figure. JT13 is on a ten year, 1mil+/year contract, I wouldn't sign anyone on that sort of deal, let alone a forward. Taylor has yet to prove himself and is, if you believe the media, going to get 1.2 mil/year to stay at the tits: insanity.

We did pretty well given how crazy the market is IMO.

 

[theshed]

Yeah JT13 and Taylor would be nice, for the right sort of figure. JT13 is on a ten year, 1mil+/year contract, I wouldn't sign anyone on that sort of deal, let alone a forward. Taylor has yet to prove himself and is, if you believe the media, going to get 1.2 mil/year to stay at the tits: insanity.

We did pretty well given how crazy the market is IMO.

No arguments from me on any of this. :superhappythumbsup:

 

[Jason Simmons]

He did score a cracking try in the loss to the Cowboys last weekend

He did. I thought he was their best player to be honest.

 

[Porthoz]

I'm on the same boat as soup, freaky, allo, etc...

I can see the attitude as something Wayne will love (and we probably need more of it at the Broncos), but I can't see him being worth the reported $750K, which wouldn't surprise me as being close to the actual value, given length of contract and his perceived value in NSW'ker land. But then again, I feel the same about Boyd's reported contract value bandied about... so like others said, it may just be a crazy market out there.

Maybe he is a much better ball player than he has shown at the Sharks, or maybe he will be a fantastic lock for us. I really hope so!

 

[Jason Simmons]

I'm on the same boat as soup, freaky, allo, etc...

I can see the attitude as something Wayne will love (and we probably more of it at the Broncos), but I can't see him being worth the reported $750K, which wouldn't surprise me as being close to the actual value, given length of contract and his perceived value in NSW'ker land. But then again, I feel the same about Boyd's reported contract value bandied about... so like others said, it may just be a crazy market out there.

Maybe he is a much better ball player than he has shown at the Sharks, or maybe he will be a fantastic lock for us. I really hope so!

I think there is a fair bit of truth in the argument that many rugby league fans have not yet adjusted to contract sizes under the increased salary cap we are going to see. Clubs will have about $2.4m more a season with as little as $500k of that going to the extra 5 players in the squad (from 25 to 30) with base wages going up to $100k and maybe 15 or so per squad on current $80k base wages getting a $20k increase will take an extra $300k chunk out of that salary cap increase.

That extra $1.6m will, in many smart clubs IMHO make current $500k players probably see $750k in years to come. Some clubs in desperate need of rapid improvement will blow it all on a big name player or two (cough, Bulldogs, cough) but a club like ours will likely use to flesh out our team with more quality into an already quality team.

Someone like Bird perfectly fits that bill.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Supposedly jack birds a total wanker who can't be controlled by his coaches. My source: the bitter daily telegraph writers. I'm sure it's factual. They have a great track record of accurate reporting and Bennett is the type of coach to sign a player like that to a 4 year deal. Yep..... welcome to rugby league "journalism"

Ps: please read this in a sarcastic tone for added effect

 

[Locky888]

Is the 2017 team a stronger team than 2016?
Gained: Jack Bird, Andre Savelio
Lost: Hunt, Herman Ese'ese, Arrow, Marshall, Molo, Moga + others.