NRL News: Reynolds set for Bulldogs swansong, Young bolts into Kangaroos frame, COVID rules to remain strict

Fan favourite Josh Reynolds is set to be given the opportunity to finish his playing career at his junior club with Canterbury on the verge of offering him an incentive deal.

The former NSW five-eighth contacted Phil Gould recently and the Bulldogs general manager on 100% Footy on Monday night said incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo would make the call on whether Reynolds should be given a try next year.

“As I said, Josh Reynolds sent me a text message some months ago to say that he was going to retire from the game in England and that he was coming back to Sydney and he’d like to do something for the Bulldogs club in community or commercial and he’s kept in touch with the club and obviously he’s a great old Bulldog,” he said.

“And then I got another text that he was coming home soon. I said, ‘I’ll see you when you get home’.

“I actually met him and his manager on the weekend. And again he’s raised the issue of whether or not he might train through the off-season and see whether or not he was ready to play.

“He’d like to do something with the young blokes and provide a bit of mentorship and leadership around the club.”

Earlier this month, Gould had denied reports that the club would be interested in Reynolds. “I hate having to respond to rumours,” Gould wrote at the time on Twitter.

Gould said Reynolds might be handy and there was no problem in giving him an off-season training deal “and see how he feels” but he indicated Ciraldo would ultimately decide whether he would be needed on the roster.

“It’s a long time since he’s played NRL football and the game has certainly changed over the past four or five seasons. He’s very passionate, he’s very resilient and very tough and he’s an old Bulldog. I never shut the door on anyone but ultimately it’ll be the coach’s call down the track,” he said.

The 33-year-old played 138 matches at Canterbury from 2011-17, including their two Grand Final defeats before embarking on an injury-riddled three-year stint at Wests Tigers where he only played 22 matches.

He was released a year early by the Tigers to join Hull FC but the Super League club let him go midway through this season after coach Brett Hodgson opted for younger options to play in the halves.

Young gun bolts into Kangaroo calculations

The form of Canberra second-rower Hudson Young hasn’t just helped his Raiders surge into finals contention, but might have also earned him a trip to the Rugby League World Cup.

Young, 24, might have just moved from potential Kangaroos’ ‘bolter’ into the ‘likely’ category with a scintillating month of football, scoring four tries in four games as the Raiders finally broke into the top eight.

Competition for spots in the back row will be hot – think Angus Crichton, Cam Murray, Jai Arrow and Kurt Capewell among others – but Young’s match-winning potential and ability to find the line might be an X-factor the Kangaroos need as competition from Pacific nations heats up.

Pumping out career-high numbers in metres (93 per game), try assists (four), linebreaks (nine) and offloads (23) to go with the 11 tries that make him the NRL’s second-highest scoring forward, Young admits he’s in the form of his life.

“I haven’t put a full season like this together before and I feel comfortable, and just want to keep going from strength to strength,” Young told AAP.

“It’s obviously a dream to represent your state or your country or anything like that, but that comes on the back of solid team performances.

Hudson Young scores. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“I wouldn’t say I’m thinking about it before games or anything like that, but obviously it’s always in the back of your head though.”

While happy to admit his bias, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says “footy nut” Young should form part of Mal Meninga’s squad.

“If he keeps playing like this it’s gonna be hard to hold him out,” he told reporters.

“I know Mal’s a fan of Hudson’s, but he’s been consistent all season.

“I’ve been so happy for him because he’s just a footy nut. I’d love nothing more than for him to get his name read out at the end of the season.”

If nothing else, Young has become a vital cog in the Canberra machine, twice scoring match-winning tries and consistently playing 80 minutes, having only come to the bench twice this campaign.

He’s also put the NRL on notice, saying his Raiders aren’t content with merely making the finals.

“It probably just comes down to my preparation – the way you train, the way you eat, the way you do everything in life,” Young said.

“For me, it feels like it’s starting to click on the field now.

“We’re a team that others probably fear to play because of the style of footy we play. We’re very unpredictable.

“When we get it right, you’ve seen what we can do.”

COVID rules to remain strict even if PM reduces isolation

Possible cuts to government-mandated COVID-19 isolation periods won’t stop NRL players from needing to satisfy three criteria in order to return to play.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flagged that COVID-19 guidelines will be discussed with state leaders when national cabinet meets on Wednesday, leading to speculation the standard isolation period could be reduced from seven days to five.

“We’re looking as well in the longer term about what the nature of restrictions are,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“Over a period of time, they have been reduced. And it is important that decisions are made which are right for the times.”

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is especially keen on reducing the isolation period, pointing to the likelihood of future outbreaks in the years to come.

“Dominic Perrottet’s position has been very clear,” Mr Albanese said.

Changes this week would prove timely for the NRL, given no formal biosecurity bubbles have been announced for the finals series, which begins next weekend.

The NRL is set to begin reviewing its COVID-19 guidelines if any changes are announced by Mr Albanese following Wednesday’s meeting.

But even if the NRL implements a five-day isolation period, head of football Graham Annesley said the return of any player who tested positive would hinge on their ability to meet three criteria.

“Any player who has tested positive to COVID-19 has to return a negative test, they have to be showing no symptoms and they’ve got to get the approval of their club doctor,” Annesley told reporters.

“They are the three most critical factors for us.”

South Sydney are poised to be the first beneficiaries of possible amendments to COVID-19 rules.

Hooker Damien Cook tested positive on Saturday so had been set to miss Friday’s blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters but could be rushed back in if the isolation period is cut to five days.

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

While the NRL has so far followed government guidelines in developing its own COVID-19 policies, any alterations would need to be approved by league officials ahead of the first round 25 game on Thursday night.

A Rabbitohs fan, Mr Albanese said he was not worried if Cook’s release was delayed.

“I encourage the Souths coach to make sure they keep the eye on the finals, which are what really matter,” he said.

Roosters captain James Tedesco said he supported cuts to the isolation period, adding that his side would not be fazed if Cook was released from isolation earlier than originally expected.

“Big players have missed big games from the (seven-day isolation) rule,” he said.

“Especially if it’s the second time (contracting the virus), guys aren’t really going to get too sick from it, so I feel like they shouldn’t miss a week if they’re not sick enough.

“(But) it doesn’t matter what team it is or who’s playing. We’ve got to focus on ourselves and getting better.”

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