Adam Reynolds tipped to follow path of Allan Langer at Broncos and play beyond his 36th birthday

Amid record-breaking deals and pressure on veteran halves, the NRL’s playmaker market is heating up, leading Adam Reynolds down the same path at the Broncos as club legend Alfie Langer.

Adam Reynolds has been tipped to do an Allan Langer and play beyond his 36th birthday as the balance of power for his final contract unexpectedly tilts his way.

Broncos captain Reynolds recently told this masthead he would like to play next season if his form and fitness warranted it and – crucially – if the Broncos wanted him to play on which at that stage was no certainty.

But the whole environment around playmakers has heated up since he spoke.

The men with their hands on the steering wheel are in extreme demand with Daly Cherry-Evans, 36, under pressure to play on, Dylan Brown signing a 10-year $13 million deal and Wests Tigers teenager Lachie Galvin tipped to land a Brown-sized mega-deal.

It’s early in the season but Reynolds’ supreme playmaking skills appear as sharp as ever and the arrival of fellow veteran Ben Hunt ensures he does not have to be a one-man playmaking show.

It is clear that if Reynolds can avoid disruptive injuries the Broncos will offer him a new deal and, according to speculation on Fox Sports, could face a bidding duel for his services with desperate clubs trying to lure him back to Sydney.

Adam Reynolds wants to play beyond his 36th birthday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Adam and I have had some chats about next year but it is still early days,’’ said Reynolds’ manager Steve Gillis as his client prepared for a generational contest against Dolphins youngster Isaiya Katoa, 21, at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.

“Adam has started well and it will sort itself out. We will see what happens.’’

Rugby league great Andrew Johns, speaking on Channel 9, tipped Reynolds to play one more year which would take him beyond his 36th birthday next July and enable him to follow the same exit path of the club’s greatest No 7, Allan Langer, who retired a few months after his 36th birthday in 2002.

Broncos great Corey Parker said the key to making the Reynolds move work is the veteran being prepared to take a financial “haircut.’’

“It’s a risk-reward thing but the key will be getting him on a price where it does not hurt you that much if his body does not stand up,’’ Parker said.

“Father Time catches us all eventually and when he does you are done.’’

“If he does not break the bank then the risk is minimal and it is a no-brainer. If you have to break the bank it’s not. It is not something they need to rush in to. Time is one their side. “And they have Ben Hunt there next year so they don’t need to be rushing in.

“It’s a juggling act because you are trying to sign Selwyn Cobbo as well and he is on the open market and won’t come cheap. And if Payne Haas hits the open market later this year he will go for plenty.’’

Reynolds former South Sydney teammate Cody Walker last week tipped Reynolds to play until his was 40.