Leeds Rhinos' Jack Bird reveals debut target for Challenge Cup tie v Wakefield Trinity
Australian signing Jack Bird has targeted Friday’s Challenge Cup derby at Wakefield Trinity for his potential Leeds Rhinos debut.
The former State of Origin star was 18th man for last Sunday’s home win against Castleford Tigers, two weeks after arriving at the club. “BA [coach Brad Arthur] explained to me during the week he didn’t want to chuck me in the deep end,” Bird said.
“It would have been a tough ask to go out there and perform with not much training under my belt with the team. I’ll try to get myself fitter and up to the speed of the game.
“Hopefully I can get the cobwebs out a bit at training and get back playing this week. I am a lot closer than I was last week, I’ll have a bit more training with the boys and hopefully BA picks me and I can make my Rhinos debut.”
Bird, who made 17 NRL appearances for Wests Tigers last year, is best known as a centre, but can also play in the halves and back-row. As to where he expects to feature for Leeds, he conceded: “I don’t know.
“BA knows what position I want to play in. I’ll keep that between him and me, but - as I’ve said to him - I am happy to play wherever the team needs me. I haven’t had a pre-season here and everyone’s worked hard to get their position so I don’t want to come in and stir the team up. I want to earn my position.
“I don’t want to come in and just think I am going to take a position because of what I have done or whatever. I want to earn that position and work hard for it. If I am coming off the bench, so be it. I’ll put my nose down and train hard each week and try to earn a starting position. Hopefully I can do that, get a bit fitter and prove to BA I can start.”
Attending Rhinos’ last two home games has whetted Bird’s appetite. “I think it’s the best fans Super League has and to be part of that is very exciting,” he stated. “I wish I’d been out there [last Sunday], but I have still got a little bit more fitness to do.
“Hopefully I am out there on Friday - that’s not a home game so we are going to need the Rhinos fans to come out to Wakefield to get us across the line and get us a win. I am really looking forward to playing in front of that crowd when I do get the chance and hopefully it is sooner rather than later.”
Playing in England has always been an ambition. Bird added: “I am 31 next week [March 20], but my head feels like I am 23 still. I still feel like I can get around the paddock. I just wanted to come over here to England and give it a crack.
"I didn’t have any opportunities in the NRL at the moment and I thought it was the best time to come over now. I am excited to be here and give it a crack and see what it’s like. Obviously, it is a tough league, no different to the NRL. Hull KR beat Broncos [in the World Club Challenge] so we can match it with those fellas over there.”
Of how he has settled in at Leeds, he said: “It has been a tough two weeks; my first week, the boys were away so I was here by myself doing my own fitness and that kind of stuff, but other than that, it has been good - the boys have been welcoming. I’ve got a few mates here, like Keenan [Palasia], Crofty [Brodie Croft], Lachie Miller. There’s a few boys I already know which made the move across a lot easier. I am missing my family, but it’s all right.”