Jack Bird
![]() Bird playing for the Dragons in 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia | 20 March 1995|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Centre, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 1 August 2016 |
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
- ^ "Jack Bird - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Jack Bird". Nycdatabase.org. 20 March 1995. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "TV: Jack Bird". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "NSW U20s ORIGIN SQUAD ANNOUNCED". Rugby League Week. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Bird lands at Sharks in 2015". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Junior Kangaroos side to face NZ". NRL.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ "SHARKS NAME 2015 NINES SQUAD". Rugby League Week. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "NRL Team List – Sharks v Titans". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Sharks v Titans: Five key points". NRL.com. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Cronulla Youngster Jack Bird Inspires Side to First Win". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2015. (subscription required)
- ^ "Ben Barba Cronulla: Rise of Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes gives veterans uncertain futures". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ "Country overcome City in seesawing affair". NRL.com. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Parkinson, Andrew (29 September 2015). "Outstanding debut for Jack Bird with Dally M Rookie of the Year award | St George & Sutherland Shire Leader". Theleader.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Dally M 2015 : Every Award Winner Including Team of the Year". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Bird signs contract extension | NRL". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "Bird Signs Contract Extension". Sharks.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "Cronulla Sharks name 2016 Nines squad". Rugby League Week. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Young City side stun Country". NRL.com. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ "Morris ruled out of Origin II". NRL.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "NRL grand final: Jack Bird played on with suspected broken arm". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
External links
- 1995 births
- Australian rugby league players
- Indigenous Australian rugby league players
- Country New South Wales Origin rugby league team players
- New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players
- Junior Kangaroos players
- Rugby league centres
- Rugby league five-eighths
- Living people