An integral member of the Sharks first premiership winning team in 2016, the 2017 season was somewhat more challenging for Jack Bird with opposition teams realising his talents and putting measures in place to shut down his effectiveness.
That being said, Bird still proved to be a constant threat with ball in hand, while his one-on-one defence is comparable to the best centres in the game.
Chosen for all three Origin games for NSW but used sparingly throughout the series, Bird showed glimpses of what makes him one of the elite players despite his limited opportunity on the big stage.
Back in clubland, Bird missed a chunk of games at the back end of the year with a shoulder injury, playing 17 matches during the season, scoring just three tries.
Heading to the Broncos in 2017, the finals loss against the Cowboys saw an emotional Bird play his last game for the Sharks. He will no doubt be missed, however he will always be remembered for his tenacity, his determination and as a member of the Sharks first-ever premiership winning side.
Season highlight: Only managed three tries but one of them was a crucial one, with Bird winning the race to a Chad Townsend grubber to score in the Sharks week one finals match against the Cowboys. The Sharks didn’t get the result on the night, but the Bird try and his efforts on the night where he was close to the his team’s best, certainly gave his side every chance.
2017 Stats: Jack Bird
Games played: 17
Tries: 3
Runs: 227
Run metres: 1938
Dummy half runs: 43
Try assists: 7
Off-loads: 17
Tackles: 222
