Unwanted Broncos star Jack Bird is expected to sign with the Dragons when the two clubs can sign a deal so he can leave Red Hill at one year to fulfill his massive contract.
Bird had a tough run with injuries in Brisbane and wants to return to Sydney, but the Dragons want the Broncos to get a large portion of his monster deal.
“There was some Twitter activity today where Jack made a deal with St. George Illawarra,” said Brent Read of Triple M.
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“This deal is not closed at the moment, but I think it will happen just because both sides are hungry for it.
“Talks are taking place now, but I think these talks have reached a dead end at the moment. I do not think it is far enough that an agreement has been reached.
“There are a couple of problems. Jack has a huge contract next year. He still has a year left and a deal for $ 975,000.
“St. George won’t pay the entire bill. Somehow they have to find a way where Brisbane can make enough money.
“I think Brisbane offered to bring in $ 200,000 first, then they offered to bring in $ 300,000, and both times the Dragons said that was not enough.”
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Bird has only made two attempts in 17 games in his three seasons with the Broncos since joining the Sharks in 2018 and not played at all in 2020 due to a knee injury.
However, he’s a Premiership winner from his time with the Sharks and, at best, an Origin player who played five games for the Blues in 2016 and 2017.
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Read believes a deal will come about because it is in both parties’ interests to get it done. The Dragons need a striker and the Broncos need to outsource their monster contract to form a more balanced squad.
“The Dragons certainly have an appetite for Jack Bird,” said Read.
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“Brisbane has an appetite to let Jack Bird go and return to Sydney because as you understand it, that’s what Jack wants.
“The other challenge for the dragons is that they have to give him a two year contract so they have to give him another year.
“It’s a challenge because what is it worth? Nobody really knows. “
The Dragons see him as a potential full-back, center-back or lock, according to Read, but Warriors coach Nathan Brown believes he can play anywhere as long as he gets his body in order.
“There was a suggestion to consider him a defense attorney, but obviously Matt Dufty is there right now,” said Read.
“I might have thought in the centers or at the castle. You have Jack de Belin there, but there is obviously a question mark above him.
“As I understand it, Anthony Griffin is a huge Jack Bird fan, so I think it will happen, it’s just a matter of when.”
“If his body holds, he can play anywhere,” said Brown.
“He’s just a good player. He can play anywhere as long as he’s fit. “
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