What we pay & what others have to pay are 2 different things. What is without question though, is whichever club he is at, he will be the top 3 paid & a club superstar. I liked the analogy of Freddy Fittler earlier. Took him a long time to become an elite 5/8. Even Johns took to well past 26 before he even got in Origin as a regular.
Even though I was pointing out the areas Fittler was better than Bird (comparing an experienced Fittler to an inexperienced Bird), I agree Bird has the potential to be a Fittler. Whether he gets to that supreme level or not, time will tell, but definitely Fittler (and all other elite players) took some time to get there.
Playing Origin in your second year (first year in the centres) is a good sign. Playing a great grand final while busted, and just out of rookie status, is another good sign.
The issue is if it is worth paying a lot for potential. If he becomes as good as Fittler, I'd say throw everything at him, pay him a 10 year 10 million dollar contract, and count the premierships.
But if we pay him that money and he becomes a top first grader but not elite, like say Matthew Johns, then we are using a lot of cap on a good first grader and losing the chance to get an elite player because our cap is tied up.
It is a dilemma, one that clubs face regularly, and probably one without a correct answer, except in hindsight.
I trust that Flanagan will get the balance right, as he has shown excellent roster management so far, and I wish Bird good luck no matter what he does. Helping us to that premiership like he did will always make him a Sharks legend.
