Jack Bird expects to be at St George Illawarra next season, despite being granted permission to speak with rival clubs.
Bird played just his second NRL game in close to three months on Sunday, filling in at five-eighth in the Dragons’ crucial 32-16 win over Gold Coast.
A mainstay of the Dragons’ backline over the opening stages of the season, the 29-year-old has struggled to get back into first grade after a minor ankle injury.
That prompted the former Dally M Rookie of the Year to seek permission to look elsewhere, with a year still to run on his contract at the Dragons.
But, speaking for the first time since being granted approval to do so, Bird said he expected to be at the Dragons in 2025.
“I will more likely be here next year. Obviously in football a lot can happen in a week. But I am focusing on this team and me being here next year,” Bird said.
“I’ve got another contract here next year.
“Obviously they have given me permission, but nothing is done. I’m still here next year, my focus is still at the club.
“I haven’t spoken to any other clubs, that was just to get a good feel to see who is out there. But I am still 100 per cent committed to this team and club.”
Bird is also adamant he is not nearing the end of his career after 10 seasons in the NRL.
“I’m only 29, so I still think I have another four good years in me if the body holds up. And it is going well at the moment,” Bird said.
“Obviously it’s always hard not playing in first grade (for the past few months). But that’s footy, that’s the business.
“You have to train hard, you have to play good and try and make your way back in. No position is given to you.
“The last few weeks I have been playing NSW Cup, we’ve had a few wins and I’ve really enjoyed it back there. It’s step by step, nothing looking too far ahead.”
Jack Bird was fit and firing for the Dragons in Mudgee. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Bird will likely have the chance to remain in the NRL for the final three weeks of the regular season, deputising for the suspended Kyle Flanagan at five-eighth.
The Dragons play Cronulla on Sunday in Wollongong, and have their destiny in their own hands while back in eighth spot on the ladder.
Bird has not played No.6 since early 2022, but said he had been given a command to not overplay his hand while in the halves.
“If I am there again, it’ll just be about keeping it simple, doing what I need to do and not try too much,” Bird said.
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Atkinson takes blame for blocker bungle
Daniel Atkinson has personally taken the blame for Cronulla being denied a potentially match-winning field goal against Newcastle, saying referees were right to penalise the Sharks for illegal blockers.
Both Atkinson and Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga had successful field goals rubbed out during the final minutes of the Sharks’ win on Sunday after their teammates were ruled to have prevented the defence from making a clear run towards the ball.
Referee Gerard Sutton cited Newcastle’s Mat Croker and Adam Elliott, and then Sharks forwards Cam McInnes and Royce Hunt, as obstructing the defence in the lead-up to the would-be one-pointers.
During the pre-season, the NRL sent clubs a memorandum that reiterated this rule, which states: “A penalty may be awarded if a player(s) takes up a position near the play-the-ball … (or) stands in the defensive line, or in front of the play-the-ball, and in the opinion of the referee, obstructs a defender(s), regardless of whether there is physical contact.”
Atkinson slotted a field goal in extra time to win the game and likely end Newcastle’s finals hopes, but Knights coach Adam O’Brien believed his team’s field goal should have been awarded earlier.
“I thought their’s (Atkinson’s) was a field goal as well,” O’Brien said after the 19-18 loss at Shark Park.
“But Graham (Annesley, NRL head of football) will find a way to dress it up.”
Ponga shared O’Brien’s frustrations after a loss which leaves the Knights unable to finish the season with a winning record, and relying on a slew of other results to make the top eight.
“I agree with ‘Adsie’ (O’Brien). I don’t have many words, I’m pretty disappointed with the result,” the captain said.
But Atkinson could understand the decision to deny the Sharks their field goal, admitting he had called for the ball at the wrong time.
After having another field goal attempt charged down moments earlier, Atkinson said he had become trigger happy and forgot to ensure his teammates had cleared his path for a field goal.
“It was just dumb by me, to be honest,” he said.
“I had blockers there, I just got excited because it was a quick play-the-ball. It was a fair call (from the referee).
“It didn’t rattle me. It was probably just more, ‘I shouldn’t have taken that’.”
The subsequent match-winner was the latest triumph for Atkinson in a breakout season at the injury-hit Sharks.
Atkinson had played only one game from the bench – for Melbourne in 2022 – prior to emerging as understudy for Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes across 14 games this year.
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Cronulla have won nine of 12 games when Atkinson has started in the halves.
AAP understands the Sharks have set aside funds to re-sign Atkinson beyond his current contract but are currently prioritising negotiations with in-form forward Jack Williams.
Williams is without a deal beyond 2024 but Atkinson holds a contract for another season, though could likely command bigger money elsewhere.
“I haven’t even thought about (my future) to be honest. I’m still trying to stay in this team week in, week out,” Atkinson said. “I love being here, love the Sharks.”
with AAP