Halfback Adam Reynolds said his decision to join Brisbane wasn’t due to Cronulla’s own recruitment discussions with him breaking down.
Reynolds hasn’t joined the Cronulla pile-on after he chose Brisbane ahead of the Sharks as his next NRL destination, insisting his dealings with the Sydney club during the recruitment process were “fantastic”.
The Sharks were in the box seat to land the No.7 next season after the Rabbitohs didn’t offer Reynolds the long-term deal he desired.
But the 30-year-old chose the Broncos, coach Kevin Walters and new chief executive Dave Donaghy convincing him to head north after detailing their plan to regenerate last year’s wooden spoon club with Reynolds at the wheel.
Reports on Thursday claimed the Broncos had offered Reynolds less than the Sharks, who had made a meal of their attempt to lure the premiership-winning half.
“It was a tough decision. Souths, Cronulla, Brisbane were all fantastic and I just had to pick one of them,” he said.
“I know they’re copping a bit in the media, but Fitzy (incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon), I have a lot of respect for him and they dealt with the process accordingly.
“Brisbane was just a fresh start for me and my family and it’s just a challenge (that excited me).”
The Sharks chose not to extend coach John Morris’s contract, recruiting Sydney Roosters assistant Fitzgibbon partly due to a belief he could lure big-name players.
The Sharks will lose Chad Townsend to North Queensland next season, while fellow playmakers Shaun Johnson, Matt Moylan and Braydon Trindall are all yet to lock in their futures for 2022.
The Broncos had faced similar issues, with a string of high-profile exits halted last week when Kotoni Staggs re-signed.
Reynolds made clear that Brisbane’s rebuild wouldn’t occupy his mind until he left Souths, but that the idea of joining another NRL force excited him.
“It’s a big club; a one-team town, powerhouse back in the day and there’s potential there to get back to where it used to be,” he said.
“It’s a challenge, I love challenges, I’m a competitive person and love winning and I’ll do everything possible to play consistent football.”
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
I reckon Rusty might have someone like Thor lined up. who knows!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Spot that is what I think, as the old Seibs has proven and Kevie is doing do week in an week out.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well they have Benji as a bench half or Dean Hawkins who else? As Cody Walker is not a half or they have a big signing?
Dutski
Roar Guru
Hey steveng and Big Mig - who will wear the 7 at Redfern next year?
SharkMan
Guest
Morris seems like a nice guy but the Sharks went backwards under his tenure. Top 4 before he took over, he finished 7th his first season, 8th his second season, and were in the bottom 8 when he was moved on. "Oh but he inherited the roster and couldn't do anything with it". BS. Robinson moved on Flanagan when he didn't want him, Cleary showed Mansour the door when he didn't want him. None of this paying half their wage at another club or waiting until their contracts expire, they were moved on immediately. Morris should have made some tough but necessary calls on the Sharks roster, he didn't and paid the price.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Don't believe a word Hooper says.
Paul
Roar Guru
There's an assumption that the Broncos are winners and the Sharks are losers in this deal. On paper, that's probably fair, but we'll not know for at least 12 months whether the Sharks have dodged a bullet and/or the Broncos have been sold a pup. Lots of guys play terrific footy at one Club then get sold to another and are underwhelming at best. The Broncos know this with Milford and I know this at the Dragons with two blokes named Hunt & Norman. Right now, the Broncos have gambled and placed a huge bet on Reynolds. It remains to be seen if they'll get a collect or not.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Fully agree with you BM, lets see how things pan out and as fans we just have to go with the flow and see how things work out? Lets see how the Bunnies go from now on and from R10 to R25 as either this was a genius stroke or a total flop with Reynolds leaving for the 2022 season? IMO, this was beyond the Bunnies managements actions (as its panning out) as he wanted something that the Bunnies couldn’t offer him which makes it even more serious of what the Bunnies will do in the future with their restrictive salary cap funds.
andrew
Roar Rookie
As I said in a recent post fark, Cronulla were a tough side with Morris at the helm. I agree with you that expecting Hannay to steer the Sharks to the finals is a big ask. They seem to have lost their mojo. Calling your CEO dumbo, i think you're being kind.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
As much as I am livid with the Rabbitohs for botching the whole Reynolds thing up, I think Reynolds dodged a bullet by not joining the Sharks, they are in a mess and there is little to be optimistic about. Apparently the Sharks had Reyno but "It was only when the conversations progressed into the hands of the club’s administrators that things went off track". Quite poor from the Sharks. Anyway the Broncos are a bigger club and are slowly beginning to get their shop in order. Reynolds playing alongside Milford is a potentially dangerous pairing, Milf will do well under the Little Midfield General. Reynolds will flourish with big fast forwards like Paas and TPJ.
steveng
Roar Rookie
That is what I thought, Reynolds had no intentions of going to the Sharks, which is fair enough as he used them as a bargaining tool. Hopefully he wont end up another Seibs mk2 and hopefully things work out for him and he won't realise that there are more problems up North than what he imagined or he can ever rectify. Anyway, I wish Adam Reynolds and his family all the best for the future and thank him for all that he has done for the Bunnies.
Tony
Roar Guru
Hang in there mate
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I rarely publicly bad mouth my club the Sharks,but I've been saving this up for some time.With one nonsensical decision Dumbo Mezzatessa and his Boardroom clowns have completely stuffed up my football club.I cannot understand why they assume an untried assistant coach(C Fitz) will automatically solve all the problems and challenges of a NRL head coach.The transition to there favoured 2022 Head Coach is going to be long and painful for all concerned.The current team, of course is playing with no soul,a reflection of the instability Dumbo has created.To expect assistant coach Josh,who's been at the club for 5 Minutes ,to step up and inspire the playing group is delusional.Weve seen a lot of Own Goals at the Club over the years but this is right up there with the best.I will always support my club ,but this year the glass is half empty.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Long term deals are fantastic for players who lose form but still get superstar money for 2 or 3 years. The list is endless. Not so great for the fans and the club though. At some stage in the future contracts, I suspect will, be reduced when highly paid players become plodders. It's not fair on their teammates either. Low contracts get upgraded and players break contracts to leave clubs for greener pastures so it's only fair that players in the future have a large percentage of their contract based on performance. The flip side is that players on the lower wages who are excelling can be rewarded for their superior efforts. It doesn't help teams who are thriving at the top of the ladder so much but maybe that's a good thing?