Jack Bird Discussion

[Kyall]

He is known for strength and agility not acceleration and speed, that’s the difference between Milford and Bird.
Another thing I did read is Bennett told Dane Gaigai at the knights he doesn’t care what he weighs as long as he plays good and puts the effort in on the field.

 

[Gaz]

No easy games’: Legend’s warning to star Broncos recruit Jack Bird

• February 14, 2018 12:59pm
• Simon Brunsdon@simonbrunsdon
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Jack Bird during Brisbane Broncos training.Source: News Corp Australia
JACK Bird has played on rugby league’s biggest stages. He’s experienced State of Origin footy and won an NRL grand final.
But he faces a whole new challenge when he steps out for Brisbane this year.

The club has missed finals twice in the past decade and there’s a certain expectation placed on it by the devout fans who flock to Suncorp Stadium in their tens of thousands.

That expectation is win, win, and win.

It’s a world away from the Shire, where loyal Cronulla fans are still on a high from winning their maiden premiership in 2016.

Yes, Bird is entering a whole new rugby league market. And Broncos legend Justin Hodges knows just how frightening it can be to wear the maroon and gold.

He spent three years playing for the Roosters in Sydney in between 193 games for Brisbane.

He knows how different it is to be a Broncos player.

New Broncos signing Jack Bird.Source: Supplied
“Brisbane is always tough. Being a one-team town there’s a lot of expectation. When he comes to the Broncos there will be expectations, getting paid a lot of money,” Hodges told foxsports.com.au.

“People always want you to be in grand finals, winning grand finals.

“But on the flip side is everyone wants to play (against) the Broncos. You look at the crowds they get, 30 or 40 or 50,000 people ... it’s a big difference when teams down here are playing in front of 5 or 10,000.

“Every time a team comes to Brisbane they know they are coming for a tough game. But that’s what comes with playing for the Broncos, the guys in Kevvy’s and Alfie’s (Kevin Walters and Alfie Langer) era created that.

“He’s got to expect a lot of tough games, there’s no easy games when you play for the Broncos.”

Hodges himself won a premiership in 2006 and played in the 2015 grand final — his last game in the NRL — which they lost to North Queensland.

Former Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt explained to NRL 360 on Monday night the difference between living in Brisbane to Wollongong since his move south to join the Dragons.

He admitted he hasn’t felt the same stardom that comes with being an NRL player in the Queensland capital.

“It seems like there’s a bit less (attention). I expected there to be a few more fans getting around Sydney,” Hunt said.

“It seems to be less than it is up in Brisbane.”

Bird may find it even more tough adjusting to life in Brisbane given his allegiance to NSW.

In signing with the Broncos he’s gone behind enemy lines, which could make life interesting come State of Origin time.

James Maloney and Jack Bird of the Sharks.Source: Getty Images
“The Queensland fans will love him while he’s wearing the maroon and yellow, and when he puts on the sky blue he’s going to be looked upon a little differently,” Hodges joked.

“He’ll be all right, it’s pretty irrelevant.”

Which position Bird plays in Brisbane is the big question mark.

There’s been speculation he could slot into the backrow or even in the halves.

But Hodges wants the 22-year-old to slot in at centre — the position he occupied at Red Hill for the better part of a decade.

 

[Morkel]

Surely not?!?!

Not more than 6 foot, if that.

Dude, how could you so obviously miss a Trump joke.

 

[Socnorb]

Dude, how could you so obviously miss a Trump joke.

Thanks Morkel.

 

[Porthoz]

Dude, how could you so obviously miss a Trump joke.

I'm overworked and tired... :greenedout:

 

[Unbreakable]

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Broncos star Jack Bird admits his confidence took a hit in loss to Melbourne

BRISBANE’S $3 million man Jack Bird has revealed his confidence is shot after being moved from five-eighth and he hasn’t played good football in two years.
An emotional Bird told The Courier-Mail he has not been happy during the early stages of his Broncos career.
Bird underwent a shoulder reconstruction late last year shortly after arriving at Red Hill on a four-season deal worth $750,000 annually.
STAYING: TPJ poised to stick with Brisbane
SWITCH: McGuire will pack down
He missed the first two rounds of the NRL season and has barely fired a shot in five appearances for the Broncos.
The NSW Origin star said his confidence took a blow after coach Wayne Bennett shifted him from five-eighth to centre during last Friday’s loss to Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.
“My confidence dropped pretty heavy after I moved back to left centre,” Bird said.
“I wasn’t having a good game as it was and to move back out to centre where you get no ball … my attitude needed to change a little bit towards that. It’s a team game.

Bird is yet to hit top form for Brisbane.
“When you’re not playing a good game yourself and things start going pear-shaped ... I’m usually mentally tougher than that and a lot better.
“I kept it to myself. I’m not the type of player to go and blow up at Wayne or any of the coaching staff. It’s what’s best for the team.
“It was more so that I was playing pretty bad myself. Getting moved out there dropped my confidence and made it a little bit worse.
“After the game I was a bit upset with myself. It’s been playing on my mind all weekend. I know I’m better than that and can come out and turn things around.”
Bird, 23, left Cronulla in controversial circumstances last year following three seasons at the Sharks which included winning in the 2016 premiership.
He was Brisbane’s big-money recruit for the 2018 season, however has been criticised for his weight and is yet to make an impact on the field.

Bird was moved to five-eighth after two matches in the centres.
Bird said shoulder and sternum injuries were hampering his form and happiness.
“The move is sweet, I’m just a bit upset with the way I’m playing footy,” he said.
“If you’re not playing good footy you’re not going to be happy. That’s what I came up here for, to play good football.
“With me not doing that, then obviously it’s going to take a toll, especially coming back from injury. That’s the only thing I’m upset with. I’m not upset with the move or team. I’m mainly upset with myself.
“There is pressure with me moving here and being a big signing and all that kind of stuff.
“Two years ago I was playing good footy. The last two years I haven’t been myself.
“I know I’ve got a lot to prove. Hopefully I can turn things around. I know I can.”
Bird played three games at left centre before replacing Kodi Nikorima in the halves alongside Anthony Milford.

Bird wants to play five-eighth in the long-term.
He will start at five-eighth in Thursday’s clash against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium and said he hoped to cement the position long-term.
“I’m enjoying it at the moment, I just need to find my mojo,” Bird said.
“Once I start doing that, I think I will be playing better footy.
“Wayne’s given me every opportunity to play to my ability. He has tried to support me as much as he can.
“He’s told me to back my instincts, play football, run hard, tackle hard. That’s something I have to start doing again. I obviously haven’t been doing that.”
Bird said he was a long way off deserving the Blues No. 6 jersey for Origin I at the MCG on June 6.

 

[Aldo]

At least he's honest. That's a start.

 

[Alec]

At least he's honest. That's a start.

Yep. And let's not sugarcoat it - he has been mediocre so far. He has to lift, hopefully it happens soon. I feel like the side has been improving slowly, maybe a few wins and he gets some confidence too.

 

[BroncosAlways]

100% the reason he's still got the beard IMO, he'd look far chubbier without it.

Not concerned with his weight whatsoever, he was never a skinny player at cronulla and won a GF.

He'll come good.

 

[ningnangnong]

It's refreshing to see a footy player speak so candidly - good on him.

Although I don't play sport at anywhere as high a level as Jack Bird, I can absolutely see where he's coming from. Got complete faith in the fella to start ripping teams a new one.

 

[Aldo]

100% the reason he's still got the beard IMO, he'd look far chubbier without it.

Not concerned with his weight whatsoever, he was never a skinny player at cronulla and won a GF.

He'll come good.

I always thought he was a pretty lean sort of guy but played with a lot more strength than what he looked like he should have. That last photo looks fucking ordinary.

 

[Number6]

At least he's honest. That's a start.

Can respect honesty and insight.

 

[BroncosAlways]

I always thought he was a pretty lean sort of guy but played with a lot more strength than what he looked like he should have. That last photo looks fucking ordinary.

Agreed, that last photo was a WTF moment.

On the plus side, it should make quite a lot of us here on the forum feel like we could play NRL if that's the standard!

In seriousness though, here's just a few off Google of him at cronulla. Compared to the modern day player, he's definitely on the chubbier side than your regular "ripped" player.

Add to that the Broncos reportedly asking him to put on weight for the forwards, it's not too big of a shock.

 

[Unbreakable]

It's definitely not uncommon honestly, I've changed my opinion on players like Milford after watching a lot of NBA. It's a world wide problem, there's countless players in the NBA who are simply out of shape and would be considerably better if they put in the effort to change their body.

The absolute prime example, for anyone who doesn't follow the NBA, is Julius Randle. Last season he was out of shape, and played comfortably the worst basketball of his career, during the off-season a switch flicked and he decided to get in prime shape. He just had easily his best ever season and was one of the most dominant forwards in the league after Christmas.

Before / After:

I wish a lot more players would dedicate themselves like that, imagine Milford if he had the body of someone like Mansour, he'd be unstoppable.

 

[Donny]

Your kidding yourself if you guys don’t think he is overweight! This was him the year the sharks won the comp. He looks at least 10kg lighter

 

[Foordy]

Your kidding yourself if you guys don’t think he is overweight! This was him the year the sharks won the comp. He looks at least 10kg lighter

who said he wasn't overweight ...

 

[Jason Simmons]

Your kidding yourself if you guys don’t think he is overweight! This was him the year the sharks won the comp. He looks at least 10kg lighter

He has got man tits. An NRL player with man tits. I don’t care if he did have a bung shoulder. Wouldn’t have stopped him getting on the exercise bike six hours a day, instead of the super-sized big macs for as long...