TEST five eighth Greg Bird rates the Cronulla Sharks a premiership team in the making and says that's the main reason why he agreed to become one of the club's longest serving players behind club Immortal, Andrew Ettingshausen.
Bird, 24, plans to cement his spot in the Australian and NSW State of Origin teams this year.
His new three-year million-dollar deal, officially announced at the Sharks' 2008 season launch on Sydney Harbour last night, will give him 11 years at Woolooware and tie him to the Sharks until the end of 2012.
This season is the seventh with the Sharks for the former Australian Schoolboy star, who moved as a teenager from Newcastle to join former Knights players Matthew Johns and Brett Kimmorley at Toyota Park.
After some hot-headed displays and suspensions, a more mature Bird proved his utility value for club, state and country last year, when he starred in the one-off Test win over New Zealand at five-eighth. The feat earned him a title as one of rugby league's most valuable players.
But it was his club and Australian coach Ricky Stuart who urged the Sharks to extend the lock/five-eighth's contract. Negotiations with chief executive Tony Zappia began before Christmas and were finalised this week.
"I'm really happy because we've now got the nucleus of a premiership team and I know we can finish top four this year, like we should have last season," Bird said.
"We won't be losing nine games by four points or less, that's for sure, and [we won't] be losing so many players to injury."
He didn't want to leave the Sharks because of the "intensity and passion" that he says Ricky Stuart has brought to the club and the Sharks' top squad.
"I've played under some good coaches but, for me, no one really rates alongside `Sticky' [Stuart]. He's really improved my game out of sight and has worked further on my passing during the off-season," he said.
"The whole attitude of the club's officials is also very positive under Ricky's influence."
Bird, now battling a hamstring injury in his quest to play in the NRL season opener, said playing outside Brett Kimmorley and Matthew Johns and watching those players and others, like Jason Smith and Laurie Daley, has helped to hone his game.
"I always liked Laurie's aggressive defensive style and the way he led the Raiders around the park," he said.
"And Noddy is still one of the best."
Bird said he enjoyed the "senior" status Stuart had given him, captain Paul Gallen, Luke Covell and the more senior Brett Kimmorley and Lance Thompson. He said he was happy to work with younger players as a consequence.
But after starring for Australia, he wants more. Much more.
"I loved playing with the best players in Origin and loved playing for Australia," he said. "I'd like to think I can cement my spot in those teams with my form this season."