BRISBANE legend Justin Hodges has backed Darren Lockyer’s calls for Jack Bird to be moved to lock at the Broncos.

After a four-game stint in the halves, Bird’s been moved back to centre for the Broncos’ game against Manly at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

But Lockyer, a Broncos legend himself, recently suggested Bird should be switched to the No.13 jersey permanently, with the continual change of positions potentially damaging to his development.

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Round 20

“I think he should play lock,” Hodges told Queenslanders Only of Bird.

“Lockyer’s been around a long time and you’re not going to argue with someone like him.

“Taking him away from halfback is going to open his game up a bit more.

“At the moment, he’s got too much responsibility.

“He’s such a wonderful player that just plays footy off the cuff, he doesn’t like to be structured.

“Being able to play lock he can get a little bit wider, use his footwork, use his ability to offload and create that second phase play the Broncos need.”

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Bird’s admitted his confidence is down after off-season shoulder surgery, but Queensland coach Kevin Walters warned he needed to soon show the club why they decided to pay him upwards of $800,000 per season.

“For me, the Broncos need to get their best 13 players on the field and then slot them into positions where that’s best for the team,” Walters said.

“Obviously Jack Bird is in their top 13 players.

“He’s played some indifferent football this year for the Broncos but at the end of the day we know he’s a quality player.

“He’s going to have to show that to Brisbane sooner or later otherwise everyone’s going to get a bit frustrated by him.

“But clearly he’s a real talent and I think in the next couple of weeks you’ll see that talent come to the top.”

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