'No one has hair like this up here': new-look Bird set to take flight
Jack Bird feels like a new man. He looks like one as well; the former Shark has dropped five kilograms and added a moustache and a mullet, with the latter bringing what he considers a touch of Sydney culture to inner-Brisbane's uninspiring male hair scene.
"No one has hair like this up here. Only out in the bush," Bird insists.
Looks are one thing but Bird knows he is at the stage of his career where deeds will do all of the talking. He has been missing in action for so long over recent seasons that his only real goal for 2020 was to try and see it out relatively unscathed.
Bird's move north to Brisbane, a high-profile signing by former coach Wayne Bennett, has been difficult to say the least. He arrived with a shoulder concern, then had a sternum injury that restricted him to just eight appearances. Last season, he finally found some continuity before injuring his ACL in round nine to rule a line through his campaign.
Now the former centre and five-eighth has moved to fullback, where he will start on Friday night as the Broncos help North Queensland christen their new stadium in Townsville to start their respective NRL campaigns. He hopes a new position can represent a fresh start in his time at Red Hill.
"My first year was a write-off," Bird said. "But I think the ACL struck me harder than that. I was back on my feet and I was happy but that ACL just pushed me right back down. But I'm pretty resilient and will keep moving forward. I'll never give up and nothing will stop me playing the game I love."
Corey Oates pushes away from the defence of Jack Bird at a soaked training session on Monday.Credit:Getty Images AsiaPac
"It's been a long time since I've been on the field. Hopefully I can get a season under my belt without any injuries."
Bird had asked Broncos coach Anthony Seibold about playing fullback before, with the coach showing little enthusiasm for the move. So it came as a surprise to Bird when Seibold turned the tables in pre-season.
"I started the pre-season at centre and out of the blue, Seibs came up and asked how I enjoyed playing fullback," Bird said. "It struck me a little bit because I didn't think he would give me a shot.
"I had tried speaking to him previously about it and he said no, so for him to have that belief in me to be able to come back from an ACL injury and play at fullback, I have to thank him for that."
Bird played some fullback as a junior and filled the jumper a handful of times for the Sharks when he first arrived in the top grade. But it has mostly been a learning experience through training, trials and watching some of the best in the business on video.
"I've done a bit of film on Teddy [James Tedesco], on RTS [Roger Tuivasa-Sheck] as well. I've looked at two elite fullbacks there and what they do and how they set up their play. I'm not there yet obviously but the more time I get there, the better I'll be.
"When I was young I played a little bit of fullback. I do enjoy it and I had to get my body in good shape to play there. I've shed five kilos and I'm back to 91kg. It's probably the leanest I've been and fittest I've felt."
Friday night will also see the Broncos debut of former Storm halfback Brodie Croft, who has been recruited to add some stability and structure, which Seibold hopes will be the difference between a top-four side and a team that will once again battle to make the top eight.