CRONULLA star Jack Bird has opened up for the first time about his decision to shun a lucrative long-term deal with his junior club St George Illawarra in favour of staying with the Sharks.

With Cronulla having brought Chad Townsend and James Maloney to the club, the 2015 Dally M rookie of the year knew his time in the halves had reached its end.

Unsure of where his place was in the team, the Dragons came calling with a plan to have Bird partner Gareth Widdop in the halves next season.

The 20-year-old finally signed a one-year extension in mid-January after months of negotiations, which was nearly saw him go back to the club where he spent two seasons playing Holden Cup before leaving for the Sharks and making a name for himself in the NRL.

Round 19

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Sharks utility Jack Bird catches a bomb. Source: News Corp Australia

But just how close was he to leaving and re-joining the Dragons?

“I was pretty close, to be honest,” Bird told foxsports.com.au.

“I still live down Wollongong and still pretty close with all the boys down there.

“That was kind of a decision I was going to make pending on that and the Sharks gave me the opportunity to play first grade in the first place and I didn’t want to go past that.

“I was pretty close but I thought Sharks have been good to me, I’m enjoying it here so I’ll see what the year hold and see how it goes with Jimmy and Chad.”

Both the Sharks and Dragons presented Bird’s management with a number of options ranging from short-term to long-term deal.

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Jack Bird celebrates a Cronulla win. Source: News Corp Australia

His junior club, who let him go at the end of 2014, desperately wanted him back and were hoping to lock him in until the end of 2019 but ultimately the Berkeley junior wanted to keep his options open.

“It was a tough decision. Obviously the Dragons came into play,” he said.

“They wanted me two to three years or maybe a little bit longer but if I sign there for the two or three years and I wasn’t happy, it was going to be hard for me to get out of there.

“I thought one year was smart at this time.

“Anything can happen in a year so I could be re-signed there or go elsewhere.”

Learning the new role of fullback, Bird’s caught in a three-way-battle with Ben Barba and Valentine Holmes for the no.1 jersey.

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Sharks fullback Jack Bird in action. Source: News Corp Australia

Having played two trial games in the custodian’s role, Bird has also been training in the centres.

When probed further on the one-year extension, Bird insist it wasn’t a tactic “for the money” but done so he could be sure of his position within the team.

“The main reason is because (I want) to see where Flanno’s got me playing and obviously the roles and how I fit into the team with Jimmy (Maloney),” Bird explained.

“I didn’t want to lock myself down too long just in case I’m playing reserve grade or I’m not happy, something like that. I want to be happy playing footy.

“If I’m not happy at the end of this year I can look elsewhere but if I am I, can sign another two years or whatever they want me for.”