Broncos recruit Jack Bird's first season at the club may be over, with the $3.5 million dollar recruit set to undergo a second surgery on his troublesome shoulder.
Bird will miss up to eight weeks of action and is set to a see a specialist on Monday to organise a treatment plan on the sternum injury that has derailed the former NSW Origin star's past nine months.
The 23-year old did not take part in Brisbane's pre-season following shoulder surgery, and coachย Wayne Bennettย confirmed that the centre would require further treatment.
โWeโre looking at getting more surgery for Jack,โ Bennett told theย Courier Mail.
โWeโre getting more advice so we need another specialist to look at him on Monday.
โIโm hoping his season isnโt over. They (Broncos medical staff) are saying if he has the operation it could be six weeks so thereโs a possibility he could be back this year.
โBut to be honest, Jack canโt play at the moment. Heโs in pain. Heโs no good for us if he canโt play to his potential.
โIt (his sternum injury) wasnโt our doing, he came to our club with this injury. We need to get things sorted out for him.
Bird has struggled through an injury-riddled 2018 campaign, failing to score a try in his eight appearances.
Broncos wingerย Corey Oates was hopeful that Bird could turn his injury fortunes around.
โIt has been a really tough time for Jack with his injuries and the way his body is,โ Oates told theย Courier Mail.ย
โHe is dealing with it as well as you can considering the surgeries and the downtime. Itโs not easy when you arenโt playing.
โJack is a good fella and a real larrikin. Thereโs no issue with the boys, heโs fitted in well here, itโs just the injuries that are affecting him.
โHeโs had a tough run, but I hope he can heal soon and make it back as quickly as possible.
โHeโs been getting hammered for his form, but in fairness Jack didnโt get to train with us in pre-season. The pressure has built up for him and that hasnโt helped.
โWhether he plays again this year I donโt know, but the guys really like Jack and weโre hoping he wants to be here for the long haul.โ
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