NRL 2021: Rabbitohs star Adam Reynolds seeking four-year deal at Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos are firmly in the frame to snare premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds if club bosses agree to his $2.8m proposal, which has one major stipulation.
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Adam Reynolds will defect to the Broncos if Brisbane bosses agree to a four-year, $2.8 million proposal to bring the Rabbitohs premiership playmaker to Red Hill.
News Corp can reveal the Reynolds contract saga has taken a dramatic twist with the South Sydney halfback outlining his interest in a four-year deal to remain in the NRL until the end of 2025.
The Sharks are considered the frontrunners to sign Reynolds on a three-year contract but the Rabbitohs veteran’s shock request for a fourth season has opened the door for the Broncos to win a bidding war.
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters and new chief executive Dave Donaghy flew to Sydney last Sunday for talks with Reynolds, who spoke about his wish list, including the possibility of a four-year contract.
Cronulla are keen to sign the former NSW Origin halfback for three years but have baulked at a fourth season — bringing the Broncos firmly into the frame to lure Reynolds from Redfern to Red Hill.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett, who will depart the Rabbitohs at season’s end, believes Reynolds would be the right fit for a Broncos club desperate to break a 15-year premiership drought.
“Adam would fit in fine at the Broncos,” Bennett said.
“He is a good bloke. He wouldn’t have issues fitting in at any club.
“He gets it. He is not a big mouth, he doesn’t talk a lot of rubbish. He is professional.
“He would be perfect for the Broncos, no doubt about that.”
The Broncos are seriously weighing up Reynolds’ request. They have the salary cap space to afford Reynolds at $700,000 a season, but the question is whether they can take on the risk of a four-year term for a playmaker who turns 31 in July.
Reynolds’ meeting with the Broncos was described as “extremely positive”.
Contrary to speculation he would not leave Sydney because of his partner and their four kids, Reynolds made it clear to the Broncos he would have no issue moving to Brisbane ... if the price is right.
There is no doubt a four-year contract would deliver Reynolds to the Broncos and finally give the club a senior, premiership-winning playmaker who could haul Brisbane back into finals contention next season.
Walters has offered Reynolds the Broncos captaincy next season, but the clincher would be a four-year deal that could see the Souths schemer play NRL beyond his 35th birthday.
Currently sidelined for the next six weeks with a thumb injury, Reynolds has been buffeted by reports he is on the verge of breaking down, with South Sydney only prepared to sign him on a year-by-year basis.
Bennett has previously scuppered claims Reynolds has a back problem that requires modified training. Since his debut in 2012, Reynolds has amassed 214 first-grade games and has averaged 22 matches per season prior to the start of the 2021 premiership, numbers that suggest he is not injury prone.
“I’ve coached Adam over the past three seasons at South Sydney and he hasn’t missed many games,” Bennett said. “I don’t see why he can’t play on for several years. Injuries are a part of the game but Adam is no more injury-prone than anyone else.
“Adam is not on modified training at Souths, it’s a bloody furphy. He doesn’t have hamstring problems, or issues with his back, knees or achilles. I don’t know why people say he’s on modified training. I’m his coach so I know better than most.”
Walters insists the Broncos will have a senior playmaker on their books next season and Reynolds’ manager Steve Gillis told News Corp last month the halfback could play until his mid-30s.
“Adam will investigate all options,” Gillis said.
“If he signed a three-year deal, he would be 34. Benji Marshall (fellow Souths playmaker) is 36 this year, so there’s no reason Adam can’t play on beyond another 12 months.
“If you are one of the best players in the marketplace, it makes no sense to keep signing one-year deals for three or four years.”
TAKE A GAMBLE ON ME, KEVVIE?
By Travis Meyn
I can be your man.
That’s the message from Broncos halfback Tyson Gamble to coach Kevin Walters as he attempts to prove he is the answer to Brisbane’s No.7 struggles.
Gamble will start at halfback for the second week running in Saturday’s derby against North Queensland in Townsville.
The robust playmaker was impressive in last week’s club record comeback win against the Gold Coast Titans, securing the No. 7 duties for at least the short-term.
Gamble is the third halfback the Broncos have used this season following the failures of Brodie Croft and Tom Dearden.
Walters is on the hunt for an experienced playmaker to bring the Broncos back from the NRL’s abyss and has launched a huge bid to sign South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds.
But Gamble is intent on proving he can be the chief playmaker Walters has been searching for and wants to finish the season in Brisbane’s No.7 jersey.
“When we were losing a few games I thought I might get a chance but I was happy to bide my time and I did that,” Gamble said.
“I finally got the chance and took it with both hands. I’m hoping to keep the jersey for the rest of the year. My goal is to play out the rest of the year.
“In saying that, footy is a funny game. It’s really up to me.”
At 24, Gamble has been around the league traps for a long time and served a lengthy apprenticeship in the Intrust Super Cup.
The Cowboys derby will be just his fifth NRL game since debuting for Wests Tigers in 2018, but he has an opportunity to add many more matches to his tally if he can continue performing.
The bar has been set low for halfbacks at the Broncos and Gamble produced a promising game against the Titans by defending well, taking the ball to the line and kicking solidly.
He also got under the skin of his rivals by showing emotion and passion that has rarely been seen at Red Hill in recent years.
“I was pretty happy overall with myself,” Gamble said of his return to the NRL.
“It’s a stepping stone. I’ve got to keep building on that.
“I need to keep talking, directing the boys around and get my kicking game on point. That goes a long way to winning.
“That (showing emotion) wasn’t my goal, it was a bit of carry-on. It was my first game in a while and I got caught up in the moment. I’m definitely very passionate and I play like that every week.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. In the past we’ve had a good performance and gone on to a pretty average performance a few times this year.
“Putting back-to-back good performances together is what we need this week.”
Walters said he wanted Gamble to back up his Titans effort with a strong game against the Cowboys as Brisbane searches for back-to-back wins.
“Tyson brought that voice we needed for our forwards, particularly our set up plays,” Walters said. “He was great last week, but that’s gone now, he has to get it right against the Cowboys.
“It’s a great opportunity for Tyson to keep doing what he did last week. That’s all we are after.”
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