Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker and Damien Cook in frame to be new South Sydney skipper
Coach Wayne Bennett may be a fortnight away from naming the new South Sydney skipper, but one man appears to have edged ahead of the pack.
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Adam Reynolds may have snuck ever so slightly ahead of his rivals in the prestigious contest to be Rabbitohs skipper for this season.
Halfback Reynolds, five-eighth Cody Walker and hooker Damien Cook are the three major candidates to replace retired Sam Burgess for 2020.
While all three would bring impeccable credentials, Reynolds may be narrow favourite given he is a South Sydney local junior.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett is giving little away and will announce the new skipper in a fortnight.
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Walker is also highly respected and assumed the club’s captaincy last year whenever Burgess was unavailable through injury.
Cook has become one of the NRL’s premier hookers in recent years and would be another strong candidate.
Burgess took over the South Sydney captaincy last year after star player Greg Inglis retired.
“It was my dream as a kid to captain Souths,” Reynolds told The Daily Telegraph late last year. “I was literally a kick away from Redfern Oval, straight across the road on Elizabeth St.
“I have some great memories of the old stadium.
“Obviously for a kid who was born and raised in Redfern and someone who enjoys the history of the club, it would be something very special.”
Star Rabbitoh Cameron Murray will be considered for the top job but – at just 22 - officials believe he doesn’t need the pressure of leadership just yet.
Souths play St George Illawarra in the annual pre-season Charity Shield on February 29 in Mudgee.
The Rabbitohs meanwhilehave given up on luring Gold Coast and Queensland prop Jai Arrow to Redfern this season.
Souths did reject a move to swap Arrow with Rabbitohs prop Liam Knight.
Gold Coast was also reluctant to release Arrow after Titans prop Ryan James was ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Souths see Arrow and Knight as being front-row leaders at the club for many years.
Originally published as Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker and Damien Cook in frame to be new South Sydney skipper