Restless Sharks star Jack Bird has given the strongest hint yet that he sees his long-term future away from the centres, claiming his transition there has been "boring at times", as coach Shane Flanagan juggles an assortment of backline options.

Having adopted a team-first policy to accommodate the off-season arrivals of halves Chad Townsend and James Maloney, Bird is eyeing a swift return to a position with a greater ball-playing focus as he bides his time in the outside backs.

The Dally M Rookie of the Year was a revelation at No.6 for the Sharks last season, playing a pivotal role in Cronulla breezing into the second week of the finals.

The 21-year-old wrestled with a return to his junior club, St George Illawarra, before signing a one-year extension to stay in the Shire until the end of 2017 – and then surrendered the fullback spot he had designs on to a rejuvenated Ben Barba. The summer shootout for the No.1 also included Valentine Holmes.