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Dragons NYC star Jack Bird has signed a two-year deal with the Sharks, commencing in 2015.

The equation is simple for Cronulla Sharks utility Jack Bird. He just wants to make his NRL debut.

Any team, on any day, at any stadium – rain, hail or shine. Bird just wants to step out to play in the world's biggest rugby league competition for the Sharks after departing St George Illawarra.

It would quite literally be "the best thing to happen" in his life. 

"Every young kid wants to play NRL and hopefully I can get my opportunity this year at the Cronulla Sharks," Bird told NRL.com.

"If I do, I'll grab it with both hands and run with it.

"I just need to train hard. Dedication is a big one. You have to prove yourself I guess and there's not much else you can do other than that to earn a spot, and once you do, you have to try and maintain that position and keep training hard and hopefully stay there."

Despite still qualifying for Holden Cup, the 19-year-old Bird boasts an already impressive résumé. 

2014 saw him earn Junior Kangaroos and New South Wales Under 20's jumpers, as well as leading the Dragons Holden Cup team to a preliminary final berth.

Quite frankly a first grade debut is seemingly inevitable. 

Now it's just a matter of deciding where to play. 

Considering Bird is competent in the halves, fullback, the centres and back-row, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan can deem himself lucky that Bird has a preference.

"I've been training in the centres. I don't want to really play back-row, so I'm pretty settled playing in the centres so hopefully I can jag a spot there," Bird said.

"The opportunity was one reason [behind my move] but I thought the change for myself and for my family would be good for me and now I've changed to Cronulla everything has fallen into place.

"It took a while to adjust in Cronulla, but I'm settling in now. It was a big personal change for me to come to the Sharks, I was born in Wollongong and I haven't even moved from there yet, but I'm enjoying it so far and looking forward to 2015."

With the likes of Gerard Beale, Ricky Leutele and Mitch Brown at the club to help aid his development in the centres, Bird is excited by the season to come.

"Every pre-season is hard. It's going good and the boys are training well and we're getting fitter and stronger and ticking the boxes we have to do in over pre-season," Bird said.

"Training with the first grade side is good. I'm enjoying it. It's a big move from the 20's, and being around all the guys, you learn a lot from them, so hopefully they can help me improve my game and my attitude because I'm looking forward to it."

 

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