Leeds Rhinos boss Brad Arthur is delighted to have landed Aussie Jack Bird, but admits he doesn’t know what he’ll do with him.

Bird, 30, has joined Rhinos on a two-year contract after being released by NRL club Wests Tigers. He was at AMT Headingley to watch yesterday’s (Friday) 46-14 win against York Knights, but won’t travel to Las Vegas with the team next week. Instead, he will train with Leeds’ reserves and could make his debut at home to Castleford Tigers on Sunday, March 8.

Bird, an NRL Grand Final winner a decade ago with Cronulla Sharks, has played 173 times in the southern hemisphere competition, as well as five State of Origin appearances for New South Wales. He was signed after Max Simpson suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season which will wipe out his 2026 campaign. Best known as a centre, Bird can fill multiple positions in the backs and forwards.

England’s Harry Newman and team captain Ash Handley, who is currently injured, are Rhinos’ first-choice centres, with Chris Hankinson backing up. Like the new signing, Hankinson can fill in a host of different roles and Arthur admitted he has “no idea at the moment” where Bird will play.

Chris Hankinson, left, congratulates Maika Sivo after the second of the winger's tries in Leeds Rhinos' 46-14 defeat of York Knights. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Chris Hankinson, left, congratulates Maika Sivo after the second of the winger's tries in Leeds Rhinos' 46-14 defeat of York Knights. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Hankinson scored a try and was involved in two others in the win against York and Arthur said: “When we were doing the jerseys at the start of the year, he was the conversation I was most nervous about because he deserves to have a spot.

“What I said to him was he is in the 17 every week, I just don’t know where. I’ll get to the game and work out where he plays. He is such a good team player and such a good club person and he is so valuable. Jack doesn’t play for another couple of weeks so I am going to worry about it when it gets closer. All I am worrying about is Vegas at the moment.”

Discussing Bird’s signing, Arthur added: “It’s good, a guy of his experience. He is coming for the right reasons, which helps. It was unfortunate for Max with his injury, but it freed up just a bit of room in the cap.

Leeds Rhinos signing Jack Bird. Picture by Tom Pearson/Leeds Rhinos.

“Jack has come for the right reasons, because we didn’t have much room, so that’s what really pleases me. His experience - and he is a big-game player - can only help strengthen competition for spots in the team.”