Jack Bird

It was not that Bird didn’t care about the team or his performance, but after two ACL injuries, a shoulder injury and a sternum injury during his time at the Broncos, he simply just wanted to stay on the field in 2021.

The now 26-year-old’s big money Broncos deal came to an end in 2020 after just 17 games in three seasons for the club due to a horror run of luck with injuries, with Brisbane chipping in a fair chunk for him to play for the Dragons last season.

Bird was instrumental in the Brisbane Broncos' 27-18 win over the Warriors – ending the home side's streak of five straight wins.

His shift from centre into the halves came late this week when Kodi Nikorima was ruled out with a leg injury on Friday.

The NSW representative was strong on defence throughout and layed on a crucial try for Jaydn Su'A late in the second half.

Coach Wayne Bennett was at his mumbling best post-match and was careful not to heap the praise on Bird, but acknowledged his half's performance was a "steady" one – and overall a pass mark.

With a little more than a month to go until the Rugby League World Cup, Coach Mal Meninga says the annual invitational match would be used as a genuine selection trial for players pushing for spots in the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad.

The six debutants; Valentine Holmes, Andrew Fifita, Api Koroisau, Dylan Walker, Bird and Paul Vaughan, will take their place in the team travelling to PNG next week, with the match to be played at the National Football Stadium in the nation’s capital.