Adam Reynolds says his love affair with Brisbane has ultimately saved him from being haunted for the rest of his life.
The Broncos captain and halfback grew up in the back streets of Redfern, kicking balls at garbage bins and lamp posts while dreaming of playing for South Sydney
He achieved his wish and won the 2014 NRL premiership with the Rabbitohs before losing the 2021 decider to Penrith.
His move to the Broncos in 2022, after the Rabbitohs decided Lachlan Ilias would be their long-term halfback, came as a shock.
Now, ahead of Sunday’s grand final showdown with the Panthers, he is one win away from a second title.
(Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
At the Broncos media session on Monday, the 33-year-old was asked if he ever thought he could love another club like he loved the Rabbitohs.
“Probably not. I was at Souths my whole life and knew nothing different,” Reynolds said.
“It’s not until you step out of an organisation and find another one and realise what’s on the other side.
“I thought South Sydney was all for me, but I’m grateful for the opportunity I have been given by Brisbane and I’ve fallen deeply in love with the club. It’s a good love story.”
That story will be even more romantic if the Broncos can get the job done and win a seventh premiership against the back-to-back defending premiers.
In 2021 the Rabbitohs lost 14-12 in the grand final against the Panthers with Reynolds missing a late conversion that would have levelled the scores.
It is the Broncos that have given him another shot at title glory.
“It excites me that I get another chance to do it. I’m sure if I’d never got another opportunity again, it would haunt me for the rest of my life,” Reynolds said.
“I have experienced both sides of a grand final. It’s much better sitting on the winning side. It’s an honour every time I run out and represent the Broncos. I love the history and … the writing on the walls.
“You walk through (Broncos headquarters at) Red Hill and you respect what everyone has done before you. To add to that piece of history would be up there with my biggest achievements.”
Upsetting the Panthers will be the Broncos’ biggest challenge yet.
“Penrith are a great team and they do things so well, but we’re up for the fight,” he said. “We have to be at our best and make sure we turn up with the right attitude.”
Phil
Roar Rookie
I wasn't saying he left a mess at each club, just saying it's been bad luck for those who followed. Something like going in to bat after Bradman. Wayne is and was so good at his craft that whoever followed was going to need some luck. Individually' B1; you are most likely right in that he saw it was time to part company for whatever reasons. Saints; A rookie coach coming after Bennett was on a hiding to nothing. Knights; Right again Bazz. The Tinkler fiasco was a schemozzle from the start. He was a reputed "billionaire" but the big problem was it was all on paper. He had no cash flow, hence all the bills left unpaid all across the Hunter with the Knights, Jets and Patanak Farm all owing money to this day. B2. There were reports at the time that the board and he were at loggerheads over various matters. We'll probably never know the real story there. Siebold, in his interview gave an academic type presentation to the board and apparently they were quite taken by it. The rest is history. Souths; another case of batting after Bradman.
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
Seems a bit coincidental that all of his former clubs have declined soon after his departure for different reasons. I think Bennett has a unique ability to get everyone at a club to row in the same direction making them stronger than the sum of their parts, once he leaves they all then resort back to individuals. Case in point is the 2020 SOO series where they came together to win that year against a superior team, then the following year they tried to recapture that same magic and failed hopelessly.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
to see a modern 3 peat would be a great thing, but also Reynolds getting another ring would be a gd story too... but go the Panthers!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The argument is usually simplistic when a team has a big lift or drop from one year to the next. If Bennett replaced Walters this year , try and tell anyone that Walters could have made the G.F if he wasn't sacked. You'd get laughed out of town.
SSTID
Roar Rookie
Dragons. Michael Carayannis mentioned it on ABC Grandstand a few weeks ago and I have generally found that he is "on the money" for these sorts of things. At worst (for Souths) he will go on the open market on 1 November.
The Barry
Roar Guru
What do you think about those individually Phil? Broncos 1 - maybe Wayne saw the writing on the wall? Dragons - were very explicit that they were going for short term success. Bennett wasn’t there to set them up for the future Knights - I think their post Bennett failings had more to do with Tinkler than Bennett Broncos 2 - Siebold definitely didn’t inherit a mess. It became one though. There’s still a number of players Siebold had or were coming through while he was there that form the nucleus of this team Souths - as above. I don’t think Souths are in crisis because of Bennett. There were a number of reasons for their poor form. Remains to be seen if JD is one of them It’s pretty interesting How much of the poison chalice is Bennett leaving clubs a mess vs coincidence vs his successors just not being as good as him…?
Bernie
Roar Rookie
i love gossip - Koloamatangi heading whose way?
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
It's easy to be Captain Hindsight. Sometimes it works out well for these long term players to spend a couple of years at another club. e.g. Cronk at the Roosters, and Ricky Stuart leaving Canberra helped him launch a coaching career.
Phil
Roar Rookie
For all the commentary about Souths going down hill without Reynolds there is another factor not mentioned. The poisoned chalice of the coach following Bennett at the club Wayne departed. Looking back, when Wayne left Brisbane the 1st time, Ivan Henjak followed and failed. Next was St George, Steve Price followed and failed. Then Newcastle, Rick Stone ditto. Back to Brisbane, Anthony Siebold came and flopped. Now we have Souths and JD. I'm not saying he has failed at this stage but this year's result is not what Souths fans were hoping for. If Souths retained Reynolds, the game manager that he is, they would have played better I feel, but that is now history with Adam enjoying life up north and good on him.
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm still searching for a reason :happy:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, that’s a real head scratcher…
Tony
Roar Guru
No doubt about that
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
That signing's probably more perplexing than letting Reynolds go.
The Barry
Roar Guru
We’re getting into serious crystal ball areas calling what a player would have stayed for if a hypothetical contract for a hypothetical amount and a hypothetical number of years has been offered If you look at this year in isolation, Reynolds has made a massive difference to the Broncos and his absence has to Souths 2022 not as much for either team I think he’s been a brilliant signing for the Broncos, but not sure his absence at Souths is as significant as being made out At the time most thought it was a good deal for both clubs and I think that still stands even if the balance has tipped in the Broncs favour…
SSTID
Roar Rookie
Walker has been the difference between Souths being an average team and a better than average (sometimes brilliant) team this year. Without him, they would have finished a lot lower than they did this year. I still think that Walker was playing well at the back end of the season - at least he was trying. He might not have got everything right, but that is a result of trying, which often results in non-completions. I also think other teams are starting to "play" him better and possibly he is pushing too far up into the line to get that extra deception value.
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
Peanuts is a relative term but I reckon he would have stayed for $500k which is peanuts for an experienced halfback. In keeping Walker and getting rid of Reynolds its like they have sold the engine but kept the turbocharger, Walker can make a good team great but he will never make a bad team good. Maybe Ilias will be that guy one day but halfbacks don't really hit their prime until late 20s, think he will make it until then at this rate?
Tony
Roar Guru
And yet, they signed Jack Wighton, who'll be 31 by the time 2024 kicks off, on a reported $3.3m for the next 4 years?
Tony
Roar Guru
Many of the best arguments are simplistic :happy:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I agree length of the contract was an issue for Reynolds Staying for peanuts wasn’t. As if he’d stay on a 3 year x 300k contract when the Broncs were offering 3 x 800k. No one’s leaving that on the table. Also, why would the Broncs offer such big money, if a three year “peanuts” deal would have been enough Maybe Souths felt they had a more ready replacement at 7 than 6 Walker hasn’t been all bad this season. He was brilliant in their early run and played well in Origin 3… struggled later on… as did everyone in the squad
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
It was never about the money, it was about the length of the contract. Reynolds would have taken peanuts for three years rather than a large salary for one. Regardless isn't Cody Walker now a player with only a couple of years left soaking up a large chunk of their salary? In my opinion they bet on the wrong horse, should have kept Reynolds and punted Walker.