Danoz Direct
NRL Captain
- Oct 12, 2013
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BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett has given Kodi Nikorima six weeks to prove himself as a halfback as Jack Bird faces a $1.2 million sacrifice by joining the Broncos.
The Broncos are sweating on a decision from Bird, who will advise Brisbane hierarchy in the next 48 hours whether he will accept a three-year deal worth $2.1 million.
The signing of Bird would have major ramifications for the composition of Brisbane’s starting side next season. The Courier-Mail can reveal:
* Nikorima has six games to prove to Bennett he has a future as a Broncos No.7 after being named as injured Ben Hunt’s replacement for the Titans derby on Friday night;
* If supersub Nikorima fails to fire, Bennett will go to the open market to sign a marquee, fully-fledged halfback;
* Bennett has no plans to shift Anthony Milford — despite speculation the five-eighth will be moved to halfback to accommodate Bird; and
* The super coach will resist a temptation to move Darius Boyd into the halves, believing his skipper is best suited at fullback or centre.
Speaking for the first time about Brisbane’s pursuit of Bird, Bennett confirmed his interest, but there is no guarantee his signing would unseat Milford from the famous No.6 jumper.
“I’m interested in Jack Bird,” Bennett told The Courier-Mail on Tuesday.
“We’re interested, just like Newcastle or Cronulla. Jack Bird is a quality football player and he’s young.”
Asked if Milford would be moved to halfback to partner Bird in the halves, Bennett said: “No, that’s not been thought of or discussed.
“We’ve lost a quality player in Ben Hunt, we’ve got money in the cap to fill his place and that’s what our aim is.”
Bennett is adamant the Milford-Nikorima scrumbase alliance that will face the Titans can flourish and believes Bird could be a potent force in the lock position.
That scenario would enable Josh McGuire to return to the front row as Brisbane prepare for life after Adam Blair, who will be 32 when he comes off-contract next year.
On Tuesday Brisbane hierarchy were finalising their offer to Bird. The NSW Origin star will be offered a three-year deal worth $700,000 annually, well short of the massive $1.1m-a-season contract tabled by the Knights.
The Broncos are quietly confident of securing Bird but admit if the 22-year-old’s decision is motivated by money, they will lose out. Amid the Bird bidding war, Bennett is challenging Nikorima to step up.
The Kiwi Test utility has played 37 games off the bench for the Broncos but fancies himself as a halfback and Bennett has given him a six-week window to convince him he’s the successor to Hunt.
“We’ll back Kodi 100 per cent,” skipper Boyd said. “He’s trained well so far this week and has played for New Zealand in the halves so he’s a quality player.
“Kodi has a role and it’s not Ben Hunt’s role, it’s his role, so we just want him to play his game and do his best for the team.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...n/news-story/b096ee7d6dbce84949fe23765b8e9ac7
The Broncos are sweating on a decision from Bird, who will advise Brisbane hierarchy in the next 48 hours whether he will accept a three-year deal worth $2.1 million.
The signing of Bird would have major ramifications for the composition of Brisbane’s starting side next season. The Courier-Mail can reveal:
* Nikorima has six games to prove to Bennett he has a future as a Broncos No.7 after being named as injured Ben Hunt’s replacement for the Titans derby on Friday night;
* If supersub Nikorima fails to fire, Bennett will go to the open market to sign a marquee, fully-fledged halfback;
* Bennett has no plans to shift Anthony Milford — despite speculation the five-eighth will be moved to halfback to accommodate Bird; and
* The super coach will resist a temptation to move Darius Boyd into the halves, believing his skipper is best suited at fullback or centre.
Speaking for the first time about Brisbane’s pursuit of Bird, Bennett confirmed his interest, but there is no guarantee his signing would unseat Milford from the famous No.6 jumper.
“I’m interested in Jack Bird,” Bennett told The Courier-Mail on Tuesday.
“We’re interested, just like Newcastle or Cronulla. Jack Bird is a quality football player and he’s young.”
Asked if Milford would be moved to halfback to partner Bird in the halves, Bennett said: “No, that’s not been thought of or discussed.
“We’ve lost a quality player in Ben Hunt, we’ve got money in the cap to fill his place and that’s what our aim is.”
Bennett is adamant the Milford-Nikorima scrumbase alliance that will face the Titans can flourish and believes Bird could be a potent force in the lock position.
That scenario would enable Josh McGuire to return to the front row as Brisbane prepare for life after Adam Blair, who will be 32 when he comes off-contract next year.
On Tuesday Brisbane hierarchy were finalising their offer to Bird. The NSW Origin star will be offered a three-year deal worth $700,000 annually, well short of the massive $1.1m-a-season contract tabled by the Knights.
The Broncos are quietly confident of securing Bird but admit if the 22-year-old’s decision is motivated by money, they will lose out. Amid the Bird bidding war, Bennett is challenging Nikorima to step up.
The Kiwi Test utility has played 37 games off the bench for the Broncos but fancies himself as a halfback and Bennett has given him a six-week window to convince him he’s the successor to Hunt.
“We’ll back Kodi 100 per cent,” skipper Boyd said. “He’s trained well so far this week and has played for New Zealand in the halves so he’s a quality player.
“Kodi has a role and it’s not Ben Hunt’s role, it’s his role, so we just want him to play his game and do his best for the team.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...n/news-story/b096ee7d6dbce84949fe23765b8e9ac7
