Adam Reynolds’ 300th NRL game milestone could turn to misery amid alarming Broncos slide

The Broncos have planned a week of celebrations to mark Adam Reynolds’ 300th first-grade game, but the veteran halfback’s landmark NRL outing threatens to be overshadowed by Brisbane’s horror slide.

The Broncos have planned a week of celebrations to mark Adam Reynolds’ 300th first-grade game, but the veteran halfback’s landmark NRL outing threatens to be overshadowed by the ongoing fallout from Brisbane’s embarrassing loss to Manly.

Reynolds, now in his 14th season at the top level, will become only the 55th player in the game’s history to hit the 300-game mark when the Broncos host bitter rivals the Gold Coast on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

It comes as he wrestles with his own future beyond this season, having been singled out for extra attention by Manly on Saturday night in what shapes as a blueprint for the rest of the NRL this season.

Reynolds was forced to make 39 tackles against the Sea Eagles, ending a stunning defeat bruised, battered and badly beaten. The 34-year-old is off contract at the end of the season and has previously indicated a desire to continue playing, if possible at the Broncos.

Adam Reynolds will become the 55th player to reach 300 games. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Reynolds during his NRL rookie season with Souths in 2012.

Brisbane are confident they can make it happen and have tabled a one year extension - but it is hard to imagine he and his aging body will be able to handle many more nights like those he and the Broncos endured at 4 Pines Park.

The Broncos were abject and Reynolds was a target as Manly went into the game with a plan to work him over without the ball to ensure they sapped his energy and negated his impact when Brisbane had possession.

They did it to devastating effect and it would be no surprise to see Titans adopt the same tactics given Reynolds is likely to be on the same side of the field as Gold Coast and Queensland back-rower Beau Fermor.

Fermor will have his own motivation as he pushes to retain his place in the Maroons side – and perhaps contend for a starting berth – for the second Origin game in Perth.

The Broncos could have fullback Reece Walsh back for that game as he races the clock to overcome a knee injury in time to play against the Titans.

If he returns, he will do so in a side that has been lambasted for their display against the Sea Eagles. Brisbane missed the jump and never looked in the contest against a Manly side missing a handful of stars, the most prominent Jake and Tom Trbojevic.

The Broncos have been savaged in the aftermath for their performance. Penrith legend and Fox League commentator Greg Alexander became the latest figure to rip into the Broncos, delivering a scathing assessment on Monday morning amid whispers that some players were upset with the coaching of Michael Maguire.

“I don’t think I have said it about a team this year – I said they have turned it up,” Alexander said on his SEN breakfast show.

Titans’ party crasher Beau Fermor will oppose Reynolds. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“It is not a throwaway line. It’s just that Brisbane was that bad. When you look at the first five minutes of that game at Brookvale Oval, in the first set – the first set – Lehi Hopoate burst through Payne Haas and Kobe Hetherington tackles. Straight through the middle.

“Manly go within a whisker of scoring in the first set. Brisbane has got some problems. Please don’t let me think the Brisbane players are whinging because Michael Maguire is too hard on them.

“Cry me a river you little wusses. If that is true, none of them deserve to be playing NRL. Tell me that is not true.

“I can’t believe it is true because I can’t believe experienced NRL players would be bitching and whinging because Michael Maguire keeps them there too long.”

Originally published as Adam Reynolds’ 300th NRL game milestone could turn to misery amid alarming Broncos slide