St George Illawarra Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is set to shake up his side’s backline, confirming Jack Bird will play predominantly as a right centre in 2024.
In the 15 games he featured in throughout 2023, Bird played in the forward line for 14 but finished off his season with a one-game stint in the centres.
Bird hasn’t played as a full-time centre since his first season back with the Dragons in 2021 but became one of the game’s best in that position during the early years of his career.
“We’ve moved him to the centres, he’ll predominantly play, I would hope so, most of his footy in the centres,” Flanagan told SEN 1170.
“He could play a little bit of five-eighth if we have an injury or form (problems), but that’s where he’ll play most of his footy, at right centre.
“He’s done a really good job, he’s lost a lot of weight and put on muscle, I’m looking for a really good season.”
With Bird moving into Zac Lomax’s position in the centres, the 24-year-old has been tipped to move into fullback, with Tyrell Sloan shifting to the wing.
However, Flanagan admitted he only sees Sloan as a fullback, meaning Lomax could incredibly be on the outside looking in on the Dragons’ gameday squad for Round One.
“Sloan is a fullback down and out, that’s his best position,” Flanagan added.
“He’s so fast out the back of shape there’s not too many players, you’ve got your Reece Walsh (types), I’m not saying he’s in that category, but he’d be up there with speed.
“If he gets one-on-one with a backrower, good luck trying to stop him and that’s why they’re trying to with Reece Walsh and these blokes out the back of shapes.
“He’s got some areas to work on defensively, but he’s done a really good job… he’s worked really hard defensively, he knows what his weaknesses are and we’ve addressed them.
“We address them every training session at some point and I think he’s bought into it.”
Dragons’ fans will get their first clue of what the backline may look like in 2024 in the side’s first pre-season clash against the Rabbitohs on February 14th.