Jack Bird

Jack Bird
Bird playing for the Dragons in 2013.
Personal information
Born (1995-03-20) 20 March 1995
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
Playing information
Position Centre, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015– Cronulla Sharks 49 14 0 0 56
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–16 NSW Country 2 0 0 0 0
2016 New South Wales 2 0 0 0 0
As of 1 August 2016
Source: [1]

Jack Bird (born 20 March 1995) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League. A New South Wales State of Origin representative, he plays at centre and five-eighth.

Background

Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, Bird is of Indigenous Australian descent and played his junior rugby league for the Berkeley Eagles, before being signed by the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

Playing career

Early career

In 2013 and 2014, Bird played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons' NYC team.[2][3] On 3 May 2014, he played for the New South Wales under-20s team against the Queensland under-20s team.[4] On 18 September 2014, he signed a 2-year contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks starting in 2015.[5] On 18 October 2014, he played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis.[6]

2015

On 31 January and 1 February, Bird played for the Sharks in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines.[7] In Round 4 of the 2015 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Sharks against the Gold Coast Titans, playing off the interchange bench in the Sharks' 22-24 loss at Remondis Stadium.[8][9][10] In Round 5 against the Sydney Roosters, he played at five-eighth for the Sharks in the absence of regular five-eighth Ben Barba. Bird scored two tries and set up another in the Sharks' 20-12 upset win over the 2013 premiers, causing him to be selected again at five-eighth the next week ahead of Barba who was named on the interchange bench.[11][12] On 3 May, he played for New South Wales Country against New South Wales City in the 2015 City vs Country Origin match, playing at halfback in Country's 34-22 win at Wagga Wagga.[13][14] On 28 September, at the 2015 Dally M Awards night, he was named the Dally M Rookie of the Year after playing in 23 matches and scoring 8 tries for the Sharks.[15][16][17]

2016

On 15 January, Bird re-signed with the Sharks on a 1-year contract.[18][19] In February, he played for the Sharks in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines.[20] On 8 May, he played for New South Wales Country against New South Wales City for a second time.[21] Following an injury to New South Wales incumbent Josh Morris, Bird was named to make his State of Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium in just his second year of first grade, coming off the bench in the spot left vacant by Dylan Walker who took Josh Morris' spot at centre.[22] On 2 October, Bird played in the Sharks' 2016 NRL Grand Final victory over the Minor Premiers Melbourne Storm. He played the majority of the game with a suspected broken arm.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Jack Bird - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  2. ↑ "Jack Bird". Nycdatabase.org. 20 March 1995. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  3. ↑ "TV: Jack Bird". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  4. ↑ "NSW U20s ORIGIN SQUAD ANNOUNCED". Rugby League Week. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  5. ↑ "Bird lands at Sharks in 2015". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  6. ↑ "Junior Kangaroos side to face NZ". NRL.com. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  7. ↑ "SHARKS NAME 2015 NINES SQUAD". Rugby League Week. 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  8. ↑ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  9. ↑ "NRL Team List – Sharks v Titans". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  10. ↑ "Sharks v Titans: Five key points". NRL.com. 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  11. ↑ "Cronulla Youngster Jack Bird Inspires Side to First Win". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2015-04-10. (subscription required)
  12. ↑ "Ben Barba Cronulla: Rise of Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes gives veterans uncertain futures". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  13. ↑ "Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  14. ↑ "Country overcome City in seesawing affair". NRL.com. 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  15. ↑ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  16. ↑ Parkinson, Andrew (2015-09-29). "Outstanding debut for Jack Bird with Dally M Rookie of the Year award | St George & Sutherland Shire Leader". Theleader.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  17. ↑ "Dally M 2015 : Every Award Winner Including Team of the Year". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  18. ↑ "Bird signs contract extension | NRL". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  19. ↑ "Bird Signs Contract Extension". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  20. ↑ "Cronulla Sharks name 2016 Nines squad". Rugby League Week. 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  21. ↑ "Young City side stun Country". NRL.com. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  22. ↑ "Morris ruled out of Origin II". NRL.com. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  23. ↑ "NRL grand final: Jack Bird played on with suspected broken arm". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-10-05.

External links

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