Andrew Johns has implored Jack Bird to think about his football legacy when he signs his next contract.
The Dragons star yesterday angrily denied that he had knocked back a two-year extension from the club due to differences over money, saying his key consideration was for long-term security.
St George Illawarra reportedly offered Bird a two-year deal last year which was quickly pulled off the table.
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Speaking to media yesterday Bird claimed that the only reason that offer was pulled was because he wasn’t prepared to sign the deal before a deadline the club had imposed on the negotiations lapsed.
Bird added that he hadn’t seen a revised contract, which has reportedly been put on the table by the Dragons, but was adamant there was no truth to reports he was unsettled by the club’s latest valuation of him, said to be $1.1 million over two years.
“Rumours coming out saying that I rejected it because of money, that is far from the truth,” Bird said of the contract taken off the table by the Dragons last year.
“Obviously I want some security behind my football,” he added.
“I’ve had some injuries that have nearly ruined my career, so I just want a little bit of security behind me, and I want to be a part of this club’s future.
“I’m turning 27 this week, if I get a three-year deal it will take me to 30. Then I can sit down with my family.
“But I still feel my best footy is in front of me. I know I want to do that here at the Dragons.”
Bird had his strongest season in years in 2021, playing 22 games in his first season wearing the Red V following a nightmare stint at the Broncos, which was ruined by a string of serious injuries.
Yet, one strong season may not be enough to convince the Dragons to sing him up for longer than two years, with his injury history sure to play a part in negotiations.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth, both Johns and Brad Fittler encouraged Bird to think primarily about where he’s likely to play his best football and give himself a chance to win a premiership rather than worrying about money or the term of the contract.
They nominated the Dragons and the Eels, a club which has also reportedly expressed interest in Bird, as the destinations he should consider, writing off the lure of the Dolphins, even if that means sacrificing money.
Both said they valued Bird in the $500,000-a-season bracket, aligning with his valuation by the Dragons.
“What does Jack want to do for the rest of his career?” Johns asked.
“He’s 26, maybe those injuries could extend his career. Let’s just say he plays to 32, he’s got six more years to go. What do you want to do?
“Do you want to go somewhere for $100,000 more? Which ends up $50,000 because you’re getting taxed.
“Do you want to go to the Dolphins who are going to struggle the first couple of years? Or do you want to win premierships?
“I understand the Eels are chasing him, that’d be a good move. But to me the Dragons, they’re starting to go on the up. They’ve got some good young players coming through. Can they win a premiership in the next couple of years? Well, maybe.
“I wouldn’t be going to the Dolphins at this stage of his career.”
Fittler added that even should Bird have a good season this year he was unlikely to be considered in the elite bracket of players that commands a deal of $800,000-a-season or more, despite the fact that he was signed by the Broncos for just shy of $1 million-a-season when his stocks skyrocketed as a rising star for the premiership-winning Sharks.
“Oh no, I don’t think he’s done enough to be at that standard, they’re sort of $800,000-$900,000 those sorts of players, who you want to build a club around,” Fittler said.
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