A deal has yet to be signed, but Arthur is hopeful the versatile 30-year-old will be “playing in a Leeds jersey in the next month”.
Bird is a former Junior Kangaroo and made five State of Origin appearances for New South Wales from 2016-17.
At club level, he has 173 NRL games to his name, for Cronulla Sharks, Brisbane Broncos, St George-Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers.
He featured 17 times with Wests last year, but has been released from the final season of his contract.
Rhinos have a vacancy in their 2026 squad after rookie centre Max Simpson sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury last month which will rule him out of the entire campaign.
As well as being vastly experienced, Bird is a Jack of all trades with an ability to play across the backline or in the pack.
“We are close to pretty much having that sorted,” Arthur confirmed. “He will probably be here in a couple of weeks once they can get the visa sorted.
“Hopefully he will be playing in a Leeds jersey in the next month. The contract isn’t signed, but it’s pretty close.”
Bird will be Leeds Rhinos’ fourth signing for 2026 – after fellow Aussies Ethan O’Neill and Danny Levi and New Zealand-born Jeremiah Mata’utia.
Arthur admitted players of his experience and quality don’t become available very often, particularly on the eve of a new season.
“He is a good football player,” Arthur – whose side visit Widnes Vikings in the Betfred Challenge Cup on Saturday – said.
“Unfortunately for Max he got his injury, but it gave us a bit of room – not much – in the [salary] cap.
“I like Jack’s attitude, he’s not coming for money because we don’t have much space; he is coming because he wants to be part of the club and challenge himself.
“I really like his attitude around it and he can play anywhere – centre, back-row, in the halves, 13, anywhere in the team.”
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