Jack Bird has pledged his long-term allegiance to Cronulla and is confident fellow backline aces Valentine Holmes and Ben Barba will also remain at the NRL premiers.Bird and Holmes are among the hottest properties off contract at the end of next season, while Barbas future is up in the air following his 12-match suspension for testing positive to cocaine after the Sharks historic grand final triumph in October.Barba is said to be the target of cashed-up rugby clubs in Europe and Japan after being granted a release from his Cronulla contract, but Bird delivered some welcome news for Sharks fans on Wednesday.Obviously hes a big loss, but Im sure hell be back during the year at some time and hes got all our support behind him, Bird said at the Auckland Nines launch in Sydney.Bird is hoping to settle his own future sooner rather than later and says as long as the Sharks table a reasonable offer hell almost certainly stay put.I just want to be comfortable where I am. Im happy to stay at the Sharks. I want to stay at the Sharks, he said.Birds loyalty pledge comes as a raft of rival clubs circle, with Newcastle and Gold Coast understood to be willing to throw huge money at the NSW State of Origin representative.Bird admits money is a factor but so too is camaraderie, with the rep ace keen to remain alongside his grand final teammates, including housemate and fellow young gun Holmes.Its a short career. Youre going to take as much as you can get to have a good career and be set for after footy, said Bird, who also harbours long-term captaincy aspirations at the Sharks.But Im not really demanding that much, to be honest. Im not that kind of guy. I just like playing footy if I got offered the minimum wage Id probably play.Bird is even willing to give Holmes first crack at the fullback position left vacant - for at least three months - by Barba.Im happy at centre. To be honest, it doesnt really bother me (where I play) besides winger, he said.But in saying that, anywhere to be around the ball I guess. I enjoy the halves but Im not much of an organiser. Im more of a runner.Bird collected Holmes from the airport following his return last week from NFL trials in America and is convinced the electrifying winger has the talent to make the code switch.Hed be a class wide receiver, to be honest. Hes got the speed, he can catch the ball, Bird said.But I dont think hes going anywhere to be honest. Hell be at the Sharks for a long time. Stan Smith Italia . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Stan Smith Scontate . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. http://www.stansmithscontate.it/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Stan Smith Uomo Saldi . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Stan Smith Scontate Uomo . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Defending champion Justin Thomas endured a terrible start to the third round of the CIMB Classic after the American faltered with three bogeys and a double-bogey to finish with a 1-under 71 on Saturday.He was swiftly overtaken by Anirban Lahiri, who shone at the TPC Kuala Lumpur with nine birdies for a 65 to open up a four-shot lead going into the final round Sunday.Thomas had two bogeys and a double-bogey in the first three holes of the back nine.It was really just terrible golf for the first 13 holes. To be 4 over par out here, it was a very weird feeling. I dont know, he said.At least the 23-year-old Thomas ended the penultimate round with five consecutive birdies.It was great to have that finish, Thomas said. I feel like that showed a lot of me, and I hope that I can ride the momentum into tomorrow.Lahiris low score positioned him at 19 under, a mark that could have been better if not for a douuble-bogey on the 12th hole in an otherwise flawless scorecard.ddddddddddddI just told myself that I got rid of my double-bogey early in the round today and just tried to focus on what I needed to do, said Lahiri, who was runner-up at the Asian Tours Macau Open last week. You know, like I said, I feel like Im hitting it good with my irons, my wedges, and Im putting it good.Lahiri has only one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour -- a tie for fifth at the 2015 PGA Championship.Scotlands Russell Knox played another solid round for a 68 and moved into a tie for second with Thomas.Trailing a shot behind them are Derek Fathauer, James Hahn and Hideki Matsuyama, who are tied at 14 under.Ryan Moore, the 2013 and 2014 winner, is tied for 17th after managing a 70.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '