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Jack Bird facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines, with battling star requiring further shoulder surgery
June 13, 2018
Jack Bird’s maiden season at the Broncos has become a nightmare with Brisbane’s $3.5 million recruit set to undergo a second bout of surgery in a crippling blow for the former NSW Origin star.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Bird will see a specialist on Monday for a treatment plan on a sternum injury that has plagued him for the past nine months dating back to his stint at former club Cronulla.
The Broncos face the Sharks this 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 undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and Broncos medicos are resigned to Bird spending another four to eight weeks in the casualty ward.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Bird — who is on $800,000 this season — faces another trip to the operating table.
“We’re looking at getting more surgery for Jack,” Bennett said.
“We’re getting more advice so we need another specialist to look at him on Monday.
“I’m hoping his season isn’t over. They (Broncos medical staff) are saying if he has the operation it could be six weeks so there’s a possibility he could be back this year.
“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.
“It (his sternum injury) wasn’t our doing, he came to our club with this injury. We need to get things sorted out for him.”
Bird was hailed as the big-money purchase who could help the Broncos break their 12-year title drought.
Instead, he has endured a luckless campaign, failing to score a try in the eight games he has played, most of which have been riddled with the pain of a sternum problem that won’t go away.
Even if he returns this season, Bird is unlikely to recapture the peak condition that saw him play a key role in Cronulla’s historic 2016 premiership triumph.
Bird’s horror year has sparked speculation he wants out of the Broncos, but Bennett insists the attacking dynamo will honour his four-year contract with the club.
Broncos winger Corey Oates said Brisbane players were trying to lift the spirits of Bird, who recently admitted his confidence was shot by his injury battles and the burden of expectation.
“It has been a really tough time for Jack with his injuries and the way his body is,” Oates said.
“He is dealing with it as well as you can considering the surgeries and the downtime. It’s not easy when you aren’t playing.
“Jack is a good fella and a real larrikin. There’s no issue with the boys, he’s fitted in well here, it’s just the injuries that are affecting him.
“He’s had a tough run, but I hope he can heal soon and make it back as quickly as possible.
“He’s been getting hammered for his form, but in fairness Jack didn’t get to train with us in pre-season. The pressure has built up for him and that hasn’t helped.
“Whether he plays again this year I don’t know, but the guys really like Jack and we’re hoping he wants to be here for the long haul.”
Source: Courier Mail
