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Bird not prepared to fly away

Published by
Stephen Marson

Despite struggling to make an impact for the Broncos this season, Jack Bird is committed to the club, according to some Brisbane greats.

Bird has played seven games so far this season and his numbers are currently career lows, considering he hasn't scored a try yet in 2018.

He's also run for just 55.31 metres per game, way down on his past two seasons of 111 and 113 metres respectively.

Bird hasn't recorded a linebreak this season either, although the club believe he's just in a form slump, and is keen to see out his four-year contract.

Darren Lockyer, a Broncos legend and a member of the club's recruitment and retention committee, told the Courier Mail Bird hasn't asked to leave the club, and said they aren't worried about his future.

“I don’t think there’s any risk of him not being happy at the Broncos,” Lockyer said.

“He probably isn’t happy with the way he is playing but it will take time for Jack to settle in at the Broncos. I thought he took a step in the right direction last week against the Bulldogs.

“Jack is on a good deal and he would be feeling the pressure to perform, but he just has to establish what his role is at his new club and the wheel will turn for him.”

Brisbane champion Gorden Tallis also weighed in on Bird's form this season, and said off-season shoulder surgery has been a big influence on his poor start to the campaign.

“He came here to play five-eighth,” Tallis said.

“The poor bugger, it’s not his fault he’s had a chequered start.

“He didn’t play a lot of the pre-season and he’s learning on the run.

“He’s gone to a new club, where it’s hard to fit in and he’s coming off an injury.

“It’s hard to get your confidence back and he’s been thrown into a playmaker role which is judged highly because Wally Lewis and Allan Langer wore the six and seven.

“You would have preferred for him to get it right behind closed doors in the pre-season, but he’s got to get it right every weekend now in front of the world’s eyes.”

Bird will be looking to break his scoring duck on Saturday when the Broncos visit the Sea Eagles.

Published by
Stephen Marson