NEWS Jack Bird hits Dragons’ radar as rivals circle

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Brisbane utility Jack Bird
hits Dragons’ radar as rivals circle


Peter Badel,
The Courier-Mail
September 20, 2019 4:56pm


 
Last edited by a moderator:
Brisbane utility Jack Bird
hits Dragons’ radar as rivals circle


Peter Badel,
The Courier-Mail
September 20, 2019 4:56pm


The Dragons and Bulldogs are eyeing off Jack Bird following revelations Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has given the former NSW Origin star permission to negotiate with rival clubs. The Courier-Mail understands St George Illawarra have Bird on their radar with the Dragons having room under the salary cap following the departure of star playmaker Gareth Widdop to English club Warrington. Canterbury and Wests Tigers are others monitoring the Bird situation.

Jack Bird could be on the way out of the Broncos. Picture: Darren England

Jack Bird could be on the way out of the Broncos. Picture: Darren England

There are fears Bird has played his final game for the Broncos with his management asking Seibold for the opportunity to explore the market amid speculation the injury-ravaged star is set to be squeezed out of Red Hill. Bird’s contract will rise to $900,000 next season, putting huge pressure on Brisbane’s salary cap. The 24-year-old has suffered cruel luck since joining Brisbane, managing just 17 games in two seasons due to shoulder, sternum and knee operations.

Bird is currently the second highest-paid player at the club behind Anthony Milford but Seibold made it clear during his 36 player reviews on Wednesday that no player will be guaranteed a position next season. On the comeback trail from a knee reconstruction, Bird is stuck behind emerging young guns Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki in the battle for centre starting berths.

Injury has cruelled Bird’s two seasons at Red Hill. Picture: Brendon Thorne

Injury has cruelled Bird’s two seasons at Red Hill. Picture: Brendon Thorne

That has opened the door for the Dragons, who signed Bird, a Wollongong product, to their under-20s in 2013 before he moved to nearby Cronulla to launch his NRL career two years later. The Broncos are under pressure to sign an experienced playmaker and jettisoning Bird would free-up the salary cap funds to allow Brisbane to explore the player market. The conundrum for the Broncos is that Bird is contracted until the end of next year with a further 12-month option in his favour, which he can feasibly activate to remain at Red Hill until 2021.

Gareth Widdop’s departure has opened up cap space at the Dragons. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Gareth Widdop’s departure has opened up cap space at the Dragons. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Bird’s manager Chris Orr confirmed he had requested permission to explore the market but said it was not a sign that the premiership-winning centre had failed to settle under Seibold’s regime. “Jack is happy at the Broncos,” Orr said. “No-one from the Broncos has attempted to push Jack out of the club. “The reason I requested permission was due to industry rumours suggesting there was interest from other clubs in Jack at a time when the Broncos are reviewing their roster.

“We’ve been up front and transparent with the Broncos. “I didn’t expect it to create the interest it has. Jack has had two injury-plagued years, but he has no issue with Anthony Seibold or the club and he would like to play a major role with the Broncos next season.” The Broncos are happy for Bird to fight for a starting spot but would consider a subsidised deal if a rival club, such as the Dragons, issued a lifeline. Broncos legend Darren Lockyer, a member of Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee, said clubs face enormous salary-cap pressures if the type of big-money deal brokered for Bird does not pay dividends.

“The one thing about footy clubs, when you sign someone to the top echelon, it needs to work for you because if it doesn’t there is a ripple effect,” Lockyer said. “If you don’t get those big decisions right it can impact on your salary cap in a major way. “The 2020 season is a big year for Jack. It is not his fault, he’s had some injuries and he hasn’t been able to stay on the footy field which is a shame. “He was playing decent footy this year before his knee injury so maybe he can fight his way back if he stays around.”


"Bird is stuck behind emerging young guns Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki in the battle for centre starting berths."

WTF??? Shiba fucking useless saki??? You gotta be joking. Bird is soooo far ahead of him it ain't funny. What a crock of shit
 
"Bird is stuck behind emerging young guns Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki in the battle for centre starting berths."

WTF??? Shiba fucking useless saki??? You gotta be joking. Bird is soooo far ahead of him it ain't funny. What a crock of shit

did you see who wrote the article ... his M.O. is to be full of shit
 
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"Bird is stuck behind emerging young guns Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki in the battle for centre starting berths."

WTF??? Shiba fucking useless saki??? You gotta be joking. Bird is soooo far ahead of him it ain't funny. What a crock of shit

A complete guess. Shibasaki being in the top fucking 30 come Round 1 will be grounds for Seibold's sacking, let alone in the 17.
 
"Bird is stuck behind emerging young guns Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki in the battle for centre starting berths."

WTF??? Shiba fucking useless saki??? You gotta be joking. Bird is soooo far ahead of him it ain't funny. What a crock of shit

Bahahahahha fmd!! Why can’t we release shibasaki... I never want to see him anywhere near nrl ever again.
 
Could be a swap for Mike’s brother Benny Hunt. Maybe ?
 
"Bird is stuck behind emerging young guns Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki in the battle for centre starting berths."

WTF??? Shiba fucking useless saki??? You gotta be joking. Bird is soooo far ahead of him it ain't funny. What a crock of shit
Bird is first picked if he is fit and stays here next season. Badel is speaking out of his arse as usual.
 
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This is some gold shit. FiH has hit the bigtime.
Well dragons were brought up as a quote from Jack's manager.... maybe FiH is Chris Orr
🤔🤔🤔
 
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Never mind just looked again.

It's those back to back quotes they do now where they don't break it up with a new paragraph or anything.

Just read it as Orr saying if an offer came from the dragons... but it was just Badel writing straight after a quote with his own garbage
 
We probably won't have to subsidise any of Jack Bird's salary since there is strong demand for Bird from several other clubs.
 
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We probably won't have to subsidise any of Jack Bird's salary since there is strong demand for Bird from several other clubs.

we also won't if he has come to us and asked for a release (and it wasn't initiated by us)
 

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