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SO often when a club is enduring the most difficult of times, it opens a door of opportunity for a young star to emerge. For the Cronulla Sharks this period of adversity has unearthed Jack Bird.
Bird was all class against top notch opposition last Sunday.
Normally an outside back, Bird was shifted into five-eighth and his speed, skill, but more than anything, his confidence, was exactly what the Sharkies needed.
Tough too! His backstory will reinforce that.
Bird suffers from a severe arthritic condition that requires fortnightly injections to keep the pain at bay and control his arthritis.
The injections are expensive and the working class family relied on the help of community fundraising to ensure young Jack got the medical help he needed.
Sharks skipper Paul Gallen was the star attraction at that fundraiser for the Bird family and four years later Gallen once again championed Bird's cause by going to Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan and pleading with him to put the kid in first grade.
Last Sunday Bird repaid his skipper. And from his first touch you could see he was a little special.
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Jack Bird celebrates scoring in the Sharks' shock win over the Roosters. Source: Getty Images
The way he moved, the way he held the football and held himself at the point of defensive contact.
His first big moment came in the 32nd minute, off an inside ball from Luke Lewis. Bird exploded into the open field and found himself one-on-one with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Bird didn't hesitate. Instead he challenged Roger to a sprint for the corner post…..with ball looping low in his right grip, he looked every bit the footballer and athlete.
Then he showed his strength, timing and confidence to put a mighty fend into Sheck's chest which left the Roosters star flat on his face, as Bird smiled and slammed the ball over the line.
Five minutes later he showed toughness and talent when surrounded by Roosters. Seemingly trapped in-goal, Bird stepped and accelerated into the teeth of the Roosters kick chase and surged himself into the field of play by an inch.
Only minutes before half-time, it was a mighty play.
With the Sharks leading 4-0 they needed another boost after half-time to cement their belief, and Bird provided again.
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On the last tackle, 20 metres out, he skimmed across the defence and convinced Roosters winger Daniel Tupou that he was about to throw a long ball. Tupou raced up, Bird kicked behind and Valentine Holmes collected the ball for an easy try.
Young Jack was having a blinder, but how would he go with the game on the line?
In the NRL, when the scoreline is tight and the clock is showing only minutes to go, the game becomes a completely different beast.
Like playing $5 hands at the Blackjack table, then suddenly you're sitting in the High Rollers.
What you do, good or bad, has far greater consequences.
Here's how Bird handled his first trip to the High Rollers.
Bird is mobbed by his teammates after scoring. Source: Getty Images
Cronulla's 14-0 lead was evaporating quickly, the Roosters were surging and with five minutes to go the Sharks looked like a boxer about to be given the standing eight count, holding a slender two-point lead.
Cronulla were on the attack but seemed to be just chewing up time rather than getting the vital try.
It's last tackle, Mick Ennis is dummy-half and looking for a ball handler. The television replays would show a young Jack Bird saying to the experienced Ennis, "Here! Give it here!"
Ennis did exactly that, Bird accelerated and then stepped inside young defensive tyro Dylan Napa to slam the ball over the line to ice the game, and get try number two for the afternoon.
Sharks fans should be excited. Bird may still only be a player of potential and will no doubt have his share of lows, as well as highs in 2015, but you can see the class.
Last week the Sharks rediscovered their style against the high flying Roosters. They hustled and bustled defensively and exuded energy with the football. They were once again a difficult and awkward opposition to play.
Tonight they face another team who have rediscovered themselves in 2015, the Newcastle Knights. For a town built on coal and steel, the high flying Tinkler/Bennett era was never a good fit. Under Rick Stone they are fighting with the underdog spirit the people of Newcastle best identify with.
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