Broncos recruit Jack Bird's first season at the club may be over, with the $3.5 million dollar recruit set to undergo a second surgery on his troublesome shoulder.
Bird will miss up to eight weeks of action and is set to a see a specialist on Monday to organise a treatment plan on the sternum injury that has derailed the former NSW Origin star's past nine months.
The 23-year old did not take part in Brisbane's pre-season following shoulder surgery, and coach Wayne Bennett confirmed that the centre would require further treatment.
“We’re looking at getting more surgery for Jack,” Bennett told the Courier Mail.
“We’re getting more advice so we need another specialist to look at him on Monday.
“I’m hoping his season isn’t over. They (Broncos medical staff) are saying if he has the operation it could be six weeks so there’s a possibility he could be back this year.
“But to be honest, Jack can’t play at the moment. He’s in pain. He’s no good for us if he can’t play to his potential.
“It (his sternum injury) wasn’t our doing, he came to our club with this injury. We need to get things sorted out for him.
Bird has struggled through an injury-riddled 2018 campaign, failing to score a try in his eight appearances.
Broncos winger Corey Oates was hopeful that Bird could turn his injury fortunes around.
“It has been a really tough time for Jack with his injuries and the way his body is,” Oates told the Courier Mail.
“He is dealing with it as well as you can considering the surgeries and the downtime. It’s not easy when you aren’t playing.
“Jack is a good fella and a real larrikin. There’s no issue with the boys, he’s fitted in well here, it’s just the injuries that are affecting him.
“He’s had a tough run, but I hope he can heal soon and make it back as quickly as possible.
“He’s been getting hammered for his form, but in fairness Jack didn’t get to train with us in pre-season. The pressure has built up for him and that hasn’t helped.
“Whether he plays again this year I don’t know, but the guys really like Jack and we’re hoping he wants to be here for the long haul.”
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