Broncos join the hunt for Cronulla’s Jack Bird
Brisbane have emerged as the wildcard in the chase for Jack Bird as the Broncos ponder making the Cronulla utility part of an all-star halves pairing with Anthony Milford next season.
Bird is expected to spend the weekend mulling over his future as he weighs up whether to accept a lucrative offer from Newcastle, alluring interest from the Broncos, or remain at the Sharks and become the centrepiece in a positional reshuffle which could revolutionise the way the club plays.
In the wake of Ben Hunt’s decision to join the Dragons from 2018, it is understood Brisbane had considered putting their pursuit of a replacement on hold for 12 months before making a play for one of the Gold Coast’s young halves — Kane Elgey and Ashley Taylor — for 2019.
However, the Broncos are now considering an alternative approach, which would result in Bird playing in the halves alongside Milford as soon as next year.
It is understood Brisbane have held talks with Bird, the Broncos emerging as a genuine option for the 22-year-old as he weighs up the most significant decision of his young footballing career.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is well aware of Bird’s talents thanks to his time as coach at St George Illawarra, when the Sharks star was emerging through the Dragons system.
On paper, a partnership between Bird and Milford would rank as one of the most youthful and exciting in the competition. Even if the partnership fails to meld, the Broncos could simply move Bird to the back row or lock, and then chase a half for 2019. The club is effectively in a win-win situation.
The Broncos’ interest in Bird has come from left field. The race for Bird was expected to be down to the Sharks and Knights, the latter having made a multi-million dollar bid to make the Cronulla player part of their rebuilding process, which began with the signing of North Queensland youngster Kayln Ponga. Cronulla were so concerned about the prospect of losing Bird that they enlisted chairman Damian Keogh to help sell the club to the talented playmaker at a meeting on Thursday.
Keogh, chief executive Lyall Gorman and coach Shane Flanagan reminded Bird that he had developed into a representative player at the club and placed at risk retaining his NSW jersey by moving to the Knights, a club in the throes of a major rebuild.
The Knights had expected to receive a response from Bird yesterday afternoon but it is understood he is likely to make a call next week, allowing him to concentrate on the grand final rematch against Melbourne tomorrow before turning his attention to his future.
Bird has been offered nearly $1 million a season to move to Newcastle. The dollars are significantly greater at the Knights but the Sharks have attempted to counteract the financial gulf by pointing to the impact a departure from Cronulla could have on other aspects of his career, including representative football.
Bird made his bow in State of Origin last year and should he appear in all three games this year he would earn close to $100,000. Should he make the World Cup squad at the end of this year, he could earn an additional $50,000.
His chances of playing for NSW and Australia would be diminished if he plays in a struggling Newcastle side. The Sharks are also expected to assuage his concerns over his positional future by offering Bird the opportunity to play a more influential role in attack, potentially as a second five-eighth playing in the No 13 jersey.
The Broncos’ interest has been largely kept under wraps but
The Weekend Australian was told yesterday that it is a realistic option for Bird, although it would require a significant financial sacrifice given Brisbane are unlikely to go anywhere near the tabled bid by the Knights.
The Sharks haven’t been resting on their laurels. Flanagan has spoken to Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds but it is understood those talks had nothing to do with the future of five-eighth James Maloney, who has been a covert target for the Knights.
It is understood Newcastle made it clear they would be interested in Maloney if he could extricate himself from the final year of his deal with Cronulla.
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