THE Northern Pride is likely to be without Chey Bird for its opening Queensland Cup match after the gun fullback broke his hand in the team's trial match at the weekend.
Bird will have a plate inserted in his left hand today after breaking it in the opening minutes of the Pride's 38-24 loss to a Cowboys combination at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
Bird and Pride captain Chris Sheppard combined in a tackle on Cowboys fullback Shannon Gallant close to their line,
with Bird knowing immediately he had done some damage but remained on the field until halftime, adrenalin taking over.
"I just thought I’d dislocated it at first,’’ Bird said.
"But it swelled up pretty quickly.
"Doc (Pride doctor Anthony Kresevic) told me at halftime it was broken.’’
X-rays yesterday confirmed the break and Bird could be out for up to four weeks.
He is likely to miss the opening-round Queensland Cup clash, a grand final replay between the Pride and premiers Sunshine Coast.
While Bird is aiming for the opener, he conceded a round two return is more likely.
Coach David Maiden said Bird’s loss, for what he expected to be anywhere from three to six weeks, was especially unfortunate given his form in Saturday’s trial.
"Benny Fitzpatrick’s been playing well for us and training well for us, he may get the opportunity,’’ Maiden said.
"There’s quite a few blokes – Brenton Bowen, Drew Campbell – that all can play the fullback position.’’
And Bird was not taking his place in the starting line-up, or automatic return to the first team for granted.
"I don’t think you can with the quality of outside backs we have,’’ he said.
With the likes of Bowen, Fitzpatrick, Tapu Rea and Kaine Manihera all vying for places in the back three, Bird said there was no room for complacency.
"Five into three doesn’t go,’’ he said.
The Pride will name close to a full-strength line-up today for Saturday’s final trial against the Windsor Wolves at Mann St.
Maiden wants to give his likely Queensland Cup team the chance to build combinations ahead of the opening round.
