CRONULLA gun Jack Bird admits he wants to start the season at fullback but declared he’s willing to play in the centres if that’s what coach Shane Flanagan deems best for the team.

Bird was solid in his first ever outing at fullback on the weekend, scoring a try and saving one in the Sharks’ 24-all trial draw against Manly.

Bird’s try came as a result of support play after Sam Tagataese made a break in the centre of the field, with the prop linking with Chad Townsend, who summed up the situation and put Bird into open space.

He later put his body on the line, throwing himself in front a determined Brenton Lawrence, stopping the Manly forward from scoring a try.

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Jack Bird barks orders during Cronulla’s trial. Source: News Corp Australia

“I thought I did the most I could do out there,” Bird told foxsports.com.au.

“I didn’t want to try and get in everything.

“It was obviously my first time and I didn’t want to overplay my hand.

“I really enjoyed it out there. There’s still some things I need to work on but we’ll get that sorted.

“There’s plenty of room to improve. As we work on that, it’ll come off better. We’ve got a few more weeks until round one so we’ll have to wait and see if I’m going to play there. If I am, I’ll put my head down, arse up and train hard.”

Locked in a three-way battle for the No.1 jersey with Ben Barba and Valentine Holmes, the Dally M rookie of the year played 60 minutes before Holmes finished off the game at the back.

During his 20 minute stint Holmes too impressed, linking with former NRL bad boy Arana Taumata to score a crucial try for the home side.

Valentine Holmes during Cronulla’s trial. Source: News Corp Australia

Having had a taste in the custodian’s role last year, interchanging with Michael Gordon and Ben Barba throughout the season, Holmes said he’s relishing every opportunity he gets to move off his wing but like Bird, the speedster will put the team ahead of personal preferences.

“I’d love to play fullback so any chance I’d get I’d take it with two hands,” Holmes told foxsports.com.au.

“You get more ball there but I’ll do what’s best for the team. Flanno knows what he’s doing.

“Jack’s my best mate. He went really well sorting the boys out in attack and defence.”

With Barba shining over the weekend for the Indigenous All Stars, competition for the vacant jersey is red hot.

While Bird said his preference is to fill the role which was freed following Gordon’s move to Parramatta, he’s willing to fill whatever role he’s needed in.

“If Benny or Val gets that number one jersey, I’m not going to screw my nose up,” Bird said.

“It’s where Flanno wants us to play — if I’m out in the centres or wherever — I’m happy to play there — I’m just doing what’s best for the team.”

Bird’s trial in the new position follows the return of Chad Townsend to the club and arrival of James Maloney.

While Bird starred for the Sharks wearing the No.6 last season, the more experienced halves have forced a reshuffle in the backline.

The 20-year-old is a natural ballplayer, making a move to fullback enticing but if the experiment fails, Bird concedes he’s unlikely to find himself back in the halves anytime soon.

“I don’t think I’ve trained at five-eighth once this pre-season,” he said.

“I can’t see myself playing there unless there’s an injury. I’ve been training mainly at centre and fullback.

“I’ll play centre but you don’t get much ball out there. I like to be around the ball as you can see (but) I’ll do what’s best for the team.”