Brisbane Broncos captain Darius Boyd admits "it's going to take time" for star recruit Jack Bird to live up to the hype placed on him after moving from Cronulla in the off-season.
Boyd's words come after suggestions Bird was hooked after leaving the field early in his side's last gasp 22-20 win over the Bulldogs on Thursday, although officials confirmed the 23-year-old was suffering quad tightness.
Bird has had an interrupted start to his time up north with a shoulder injury, meaning he missed the first two rounds of the season on top of battling ongoing sternum and quad injuries.
After beginning the season in the centres, the former Shark was moved to the halves where his impact hasn't been much better.
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Bird has averaged just seven runs per game and only has one try-assist.
His captain told Macquarie Sports Radio Bird needs time to regain his full fitness before he can find the form which saw him sign a big-money contract with Brisbane.
"He's really fit in well with the group," Boyd said.
"I think he's just really unhappy with his footy at the moment, obviously coming to a new club, he's had a few injuries, he had an ankle in the pre-season, his sternum's giving him a bit of trouble still, he had a shoulder which he got done quite late in the off-season which delayed his return to play for us.
"That inconsistent pre-season with a new team is always tough. Now starting in the centres and then going to a key position like five-eighth, he's still learning the role as a player, let alone playing in our team and the plays we like to play and the structure we have as well.
"It's going to take time."
It was a similar situation when Anthony Milford and James Roberts moved to the Broncos with both players criticised by the media for the time it took them to adapt to their new club.
For Milford, he is now the central man running the show for his team and Roberts' pace and step has proved crucial to Brisbane's attack.
Boyd also made it no secret that he still wants to play for his beloved Maroons in this year's State of Origin series, but did admit he will be challenged for a position.
"I've spoken to Kevy (Walters) here and there," Boyd said.
"I'd love to be there, you never let the Queensland jersey down, in saying that, I understand where we're at as a team.
"It's a great team, we've got a lot of quality players coming through, we've got a great lot of depth especially in the backline.
"While I'd love to be there and never let the team down, at the same I understand that there's some young guys coming through in form and that's hard to ignore."
The likes of Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates and Valentine Holmes will compete with Boyd for the likely last spot in the Maroons' backline.
Thursday's victory over the Bulldogs wasn't Boyd's best game, let alone his best start to an NRL season which has seen him face pressure to remain in the representative line-up.
The Broncos fullback was also involved in the controversial last minute penalty which won his side the game.
Boyd laughingly responded to MSR Breakfast host Beau Ryan who asked:
"Did you feel that little push in the back from Moses, you alright?"
"It hurt my shoulder a little bit, but I'll live," Boyd said.
The Broncos will face Manly in a Suncorp Stadium double-header in round ten.
