Sharks want the Bird
By ADRIAN PROSENKO - SMH | Sunday, 02 December 2007
Kangaroos five-eighth Greg Bird is on the verge of signing a seven-figure deal that will keep him at the Sharks for the rest of his career.
Bird is one of several key players the club is in the process of re-signing before it shifts its focus to luring internationals Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu and Israel Folau.
Bird is already contracted for another two seasons but is negotiating to extend his stay until 2012 - a massive five-year deal that will make him a millionaire.
"I like the area and haven't made any plans to go elsewhere," Bird told
The Sun-Herald. "I'm not staying just because I love the town and I love the team, I want to win a comp and I really think we've got the potential to do it.
"It would be awesome. I reckon they'd knock the bridge down if it happened, that's really my main goal.
"After the representative season I had I was looking to secure a couple [more] years and I was pretty happy with the team.
"I really think there's some young blokes coming through, and if we can keep the squad we've got now for a few years, under the experience of Ricky Stuart's coaching, we're definitely a top-four team."
Sharks boss Tony Zappia confirmed talks were well under way, with an official announcement expected before Christmas.
"He's a player the club wants to keep long term," Zappia said. "We've met and hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement.
"He's been at the Sharks now for six or seven years and has earned Australian and Origin honours."
The Sharks are also in negotiations to stitch up their most promising prospects.
Prop Luke Douglas, on the fringe of higher honours after gaining selection in the Prime Minster's XIII match against PNG, is in negotiations to extend his contract beyond next season. Officials have opened talks with centre Ben Pomeroy and forward Jacob Selmes.
NSW lock Paul Gallen recently signed on until 2011.
Zappia, a former Eels footballer manager, said retention was his top priority but the focus would then shift to luring Hayne and Inu from Parramatta. Storm sensation Folau is another star on his hit-list.
"They're good players, obviously, but it becomes a matter of whether you can or can't do it," Zappia said.
"We'll have to see what's available in the cap once we've retained the blokes we want to retain."
