NRL news: Dragons star set to stay despite freedom to leave, Sharks takes responsibility for field goal blunder
Jack Bird hopes to play at St George Illawarra next season despite being given permission to talk to rival clubs.
Bird played just his second NRL game in nearly three months on Sunday, lining up fifth in the Dragons’ crucial 32-16 win over the Gold Coast.
The 29-year-old, who was a mainstay of the Dragons’ backline in the early stages of the season, has struggled to get back into first grade action after suffering a minor ankle injury.
That prompted the former Dally M Rookie of the Year to ask permission to move elsewhere while he still had a year left on his contract with the Dragons.
But, speaking for the first time since being cleared to do so, Bird said he hoped to join the Dragons in 2025.
“I’m more than likely going to be here next year. Obviously a lot can happen in a week in football. But I’m focused on this team and being here next year,” Bird said.
“I’ve got another contract here next year.
“Obviously they have given me permission, but nothing has happened. I will be here next year, my focus is still on the club.
“I haven’t spoken to any other clubs, it was just to find out who the guys are playing. But I’m still 100 per cent committed to this team and this club.”
Bird is also adamant his career isn’t going to be over after 10 seasons in the NRL.
“I’m only 29, so I think I have four more good years in me if my body stays right,” Bird said. “And right now, things are going well.”
“Obviously it’s always difficult not to play first grade (for the last few months). But that’s football, that’s business.
“You have to train hard, you have to play well and try to come back. No position is given to you,” he said.
“The last couple of weeks I’ve been playing NSW Cup, we’ve had a couple of wins and I’ve really enjoyed it over there. It’s step by step, not too far away.”
Jack Bird was fit and playing for the Dragons at Mudgee. (Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Bird will likely get a chance to remain in the NRL for the final three weeks of the regular season, where he will replace the suspended Kyle Flanagan at number five.
The Dragons play Cronulla in Wollongong on Sunday, looking to take their fate into their own hands and move back up to eighth on the table.
Bird hasn’t played No. 6 since the start of 2022, but said he was ordered not to overplay his arm while in the half.
“If I’m ever going to be out there again, it’s just going to be to keep it simple, do what I have to do and not try too hard,” Bird said.
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Atkinson takes responsibility for blocker glitch
Daniel Atkinson has personally taken the blame for Cronulla being denied a potential match-winning field goal against Newcastle, and says the referee was right to penalise the Sharks for illegal blockers.
Atkinson and Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga both had successful field goals cancelled out in the final minutes of the Sharks’ win on Sunday after their teammates were accused of preventing the defence from getting a clear path to the ball.
Referee Gerard Sutton adjudged Newcastle’s Matt Crocker and Adam Elliot, and Sharks’ forwards Cam McInnes and Royce Hunt, to be obstructing the defence ahead of potential one-pointers.
During pre-season, the NRL sent a memo to clubs which reiterated this rule, stating: “If a player takes up a position near the play-the-ball … (or) stands in the defensive line or in front of the play-the-ball, and, in the opinion of the referee, obstructs a defender, a penalty may be awarded regardless of whether or not physical contact occurred.”
Atkinson scored a field goal in extra time to win the match and possibly end Newcastle’s hopes of reaching the finals, but Knights coach Adam O’Brien believed his side should have been awarded the field goal earlier.
“I thought his (Atkinson’s) goal was a field goal as well,” O’Brien said after the 19-18 loss at Shark Park.
“But Graham (Ainsley, NRL football chief) will find a way to make it better.”
Ponga shared O’Brien’s disappointment that the defeat leaves the Knights unable to finish the season with a win, and having to rely on other results to secure a top eight finish.
“I agree with ‘Eddy’ (O’Brien). I don’t have many words to say, I am very disappointed with the result,” the captain said.
But Atkinson could understand the decision to deny the Sharks a field goal, admitting he asked for the ball at the wrong time.
After missing another field goal attempt just moments earlier, Atkinson said he got too excited and forgot to make sure his teammates cleared his path for the field goal.
“To be honest, it was a stupid mistake on my part,” he said.
“I had blockers there, I was just excited because it was a quick play-the-ball. It was a fair decision (from the referee).”
“It didn’t bother me. It was probably just, ‘I shouldn’t have taken that’.”
The subsequent match-winning goal was Atkinson’s latest triumph in a successful season for the injury-plagued Sharks.
Atkinson played just one game off the bench — for Melbourne in 2022 — before emerging as an understudy for Brayden Trindall and Nico Hines in 14 games this year.
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Cronulla won nine of the 12 games when Atkinson started playing in the first half.
AAP has learned the Sharks have set aside funds to re-sign Atkinson beyond his current contract but are currently prioritising talks with in-form forward Jack Williams.
Williams doesn’t have a deal beyond 2024, but Atkinson is under contract for one more season, though he could presumably make more money elsewhere.
“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about (my future). I’m still just trying to be here week in, week out and be with this team,” Atkinson said. “I love being here, love the Sharks.”
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