Brisbane have confirmed Jack Bird will be given a chance to impress in 2019 after he struggled for consistency in his debut year, and will line up alongside James Roberts in the centres to start the season.
Bird played just eight games due to injury in 2018, and with a price tag at reportedly around $800,000 per season, many were frustrated at the lack of output from Bird.
However, after a strong start to the pre-season as told by Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough, the club are expecting more from the 23-year-old this campaign.
“He is out there firing, getting into the contact and getting amongst it and that is what we need from Jack — to compete hard when he is fully fit,” McCullough told AAP.
“He has been training in the centres so that is where Jack will be at this stage.
“Jack is in at centre, Jimmy (Roberts) is the other and we will go from there.”
Bird started at centre in his first three games for the Broncos last season, but was then moved into the halves and played three games at halfback and one at five-eighth over the next month.
He reverted back to centre for his final game of the season, and finished the year without a try to his name.
Brisbane open their season in Melbourne against the Storm on Thursday, March 14.