OFFICIAL Jack Bird #299

[Jolls]

Jack Bird: Wesrts Tigers' Wade Graham?

There has been a lot of speculation about Jack Bird and how he fits into the club. I know he has had his fair share of injuries and he has slowed down a little from his prime as a centre or 5/8. His versatility makes him an ideal 14; however, I can’t help but draw comparisons to how Wade Graham operated so effectively for Cronulla. Could Bird play a similar role for us, adding that experience, versatility and X factor we have been crying out for?

Graham was pivotal for the Sharks, seamlessly transitioning between roles in the back row and halves, offering both creativity and defensive toughness. His leadership and football IQ made him a cornerstone of their success, especially in high-pressure moments.

Jack Bird, when fit, brings a comparable skill set. He’s versatile, can play across the backline or in the forward pack, and has a bit of that mongrel we need in the trenches. Bird’s ability to ball-play in the line, his footwork, and his aggressive running game could add an extra dimension to our attack. Plus, he’s been around premiership-winning systems, which could rub off on our younger squad.

If we use him right—perhaps as a utility forward who can slot into a playmaker role when needed—he has the potential to become the stabilising presence we’ve lacked. Of course, durability and consistency would be key.

Could Bird become our Wade Graham, or is this just wishful thinking?

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Bird is an out and out footballer his body has been his only drawback
Play in the backs or forwards and spine will be in pretty much every nrl 17 if fit
Lot to like but apprehensive about getting excited 🤞🤞

 

[Jolls]

Bird is an out and out footballer his body has been his only drawback
Play in the backs or forwards and spine will be in pretty much every nrl 17 if fit
Lot to like but apprehensive about getting excited 🤞🤞

I think you are right, I guess the question is do we turn him into a specialist 13 and develop a gameplan around him Luai and Galvin or do we use him as a utility (which I guess he can also be from 13).

If we choose to use him as a "Wade Graham" we would also need to emulate this in the lower grades so we are playing the same style throughout the club.

He has clearly come with the mindset that he will be the 13. If his body holds up I am looking forward to seeing how Benji uses him in attack.

 

[jadtiger]

I was against the Bird signing mainly because of my perception of him being injury prone.However i hope he makes me look like a fool by having a good season on the field(playing a minimum 20 games)

 

[Buttface]

I was against the Bird signing mainly because of my perception of him being injury prone.However i hope he makes me look like a fool by having a good season on the field(playing a minimum 20 games)

Yeah I was a bit the same, but now we have signed 2x NRL props I don’t mind having Bird. He has great versatility and I believe the contract is not overs, plus he has experienced the highs and lows.

 

[Lestronge]

I never laced a football boot so please forgive me but wouldn't bird be suited to backrow/centre and not lock with his broken down body? He gets less of the ball on an edge and he has been doing sprint training idk?

Depends what his injuries are . If it’s hamstring , and muscle injuries then the turn and sprint , lateral movement of block plays and players running different lines , plus the obvious impact you’d say it’s better to move him into lock the middle .
If it’s shoulder injuries and impact injuries , you’d think he’d be far better suited to the edge to reduce the amount of impact .
I guess potentially that’s what the club is thinking ? I’m not a physio but this seems right to me .

 

[Jolls]

Jack doesn't appear to have recurring injuries, more a string of different inuries - bad luck?

Played through 2016 GF with an elbow injury - showing grit. Left Cronulla with a shoulder injury that required surgery preventing him playing in the first two rounds for the Donkeys in 2018, then injuried his sternum in round ten. That kept him out for 9 months.

He was playing well in 2019 after he returned from the sternum injury only to do an ACL. He did the ACL again in the 2020 pre season.

21, 22 and 23 were injury free but he only played 14 games in 23 after his forced apology to fans after he had a go at them for planning protests against Hook and the team's performance. Last year he did his ankle in R12,

So his body has copped a bit, decent injuries to his shoulder, sternum, ACL x2 in (19/20) and an ankle but nothing that is "recurring". He had a pretty good run from 15-17 and then 21-24. He had a horror run from 18-20 with the Donkeys where he hardly played, so not a lot of mileage over that period.

You would assume that we have done our due dilligence on the medical front, not that it is a guarantee. I'm happy to give him the beneft if the doubt on the injury front. If he can play a Wade Graham role for us I think he could be a point of difference that wins us the close games for a change.

 

[upthetigers]

Thanks guys, we deserve some luck for a change

 

[BAGNF05]

I never laced a football boot so please forgive me but wouldn't bird be suited to backrow/centre and not lock with his broken down body? He gets less of the ball on an edge and he has been doing sprint training idk?

I think he’ll spend some time at second row.

 

[upthetigers]

I think he’ll spend some time at second row.

So do I

 

[Jolls]

I think he’ll spend some time at second row.

While it is an option to play him on the edge his late footwork at the line and his skills from his days playing 5/8 aren't maximised. I think he could do it but probably a waste of his potential. Given he defends well perhaps we see hime defend on the edge and play as an ball playing option in the middle. May for the post contact offload, Hunt to scatter the pins and offload and Bird to play at the line and put plyers through gaps in the middle. Bula perhaps?

Let's put the 13 on his back and see where he takes us in the trials.

He could simply not make the transition however good is sounds on paper.

 

[BAGNF05]

While it is an option to play him on the edge his late footwork at the line and his skills from his days playing 5/8 aren't maximised. I think he could do it but probably a waste of his potential. Given he defends well perhaps we see hime defend on the edge and play as an ball playing option in the middle. May for the post contact offload, Hunt to scatter the pins and offload and Bird to play at the line and put plyers through gaps in the middle. Bula perhaps?

Let's put the 13 on his back and see where he takes us in the trials.

He could simply not make the transition however good is sounds on paper.

I really see him as a bit of a Swiss Army knife. A much better version of Garner who can play edge, and also halves or even hooker if needed. If he’s not injured.

Lock is interesting, hopefully it works out.

 

[crazycat]

Unsure why people aren't talking Jack Bird at Center more?

Yes he can play in the forward pack. I see this as more a John Sutton role then Wade Graham, but be happy for him to take either.

Were clearly chock a block of playmakers. I assume Benji told Bird he won't be playing 5/8. ..

I definately can see him in Center. Bird + Olam would actually tighten our backline defense a lot and we don't have many other experienced NRL centers putting their hands up.

Ofcourse I also see Bird at lock, not 2RF... As I just don't see him having impact there.

 

[crazycat]

Can someone explain why the Dragons ditched Bird?

Seriously why? this is weird.

Either he is crap and they don't want him. OR he is good and they wouldn't ditch him?

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

Ok sure, they have Suli at Center and are listed Val Holmes at Center (thought he would go wing). But surely Jack Bird is someone they want, that Flanno wants from the Sharks days.

What is up here?

I can only think that Val Holmes and Jack Bird hate each other. If they biff up first time we play. AWESOME.

 

[Vicious]

The success of Jack Bird being our regular starting 13 will go a long way to determining our teams overall success in 2025.
I understand there would be a fall back plan to maybe move JB to an edge of it doesn’t work, but Benji has quite rightly identified we need a genuine ball player with a running game as our 13 to free up and get the best out of the likes of Luai, Galvin, Bula and Latu Fainu when he enters the equation,
The question on everybody’s lips is can JB hold up defensively in the middle?
Without knowing what Benji is thinking, I think the plan will be for JB to play the first 20–25mins of each game before having a break and only playing similar minutes in the 2nd half giving him time to rest/recover and hopefully look after his ageing body.
I think this will be similar to how Api is used this season, so it will be plenty of experience for the first 25mins of each game, then a heavy reliance on our younger up and comers to come on and get the job done while a few of our older more experienced players are resting.

 

[tiger_one]

 

[hank37w]

Good to see happy players in a Wests Tigers jersey.

 

[tig_prmz]

Great defence in the middle of the field.

Good line speed, and hit them hard.

I'm very surprised to see someone like him in our colours and not go backwards.

 

[jadtiger]

He has always been able to play good football however the main problem with him is he often seems to be unavailable to play due to injuries.Hopefully the ice on his leg yesterday was precautionary only and he won't spend much time on the sideline.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Great defence in the middle of the field.

Good line speed, and hit them hard.

I'm very surprised to see someone like him in our colours and not go backwards.

And the dragons didn't want him makes you wonder what Flanno's thinking at times.
Put my hand up when we signed him thought he was an ordinary player but Benji has chosen the right way to use him, going well.