Brisbane Broncos 2022: Adam Reynolds injury update, will have painkilling injections in bid to play

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has revealed the full extent of his injury woes, and it’s tough reading for Brisbane fans gearing up for a tilt at the finals.

Payne Haas picked up an ankle injury in Origin (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds will have a painkilling injection on his damaged ribs in a desperate bid to face the Cowboys this Saturday night and ramp-up Brisbane’s charge towards their first finals series in three years.

Brisbane have received a boost in the lead-up to the Queensland derby in Townsville with long-time sponsor Firstmac inking a five-year extension in a multimillion-dollar commercial coup for the Broncos.

And the Broncos’ finals ambitions have had a major shot in the arm as Reynolds prepares to return from the painful rib injury he suffered three weeks ago in Brisbane’s gutsy 24-18 defeat of the Raiders.

Speaking for the first time since being crunched by Raiders rival Jamal Fogarty, Reynolds confirmed his rib fracture and revealed it could be another two months before Brisbane’s most important player is 100 per cent fit.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds will need painkilling injections to get him back on the field this weekend. Picture: Richard Walker

But, in a remarkable demonstration of his toughness, the pint-sized halfback is plotting a Cowboys comeback to help the Broncos (9-5), fifth on percentages, stay in touch with the top four.

“The plan is to play against the Cowboys this week,” said Reynolds, who missed Brisbane’s round 15 loss to the Storm in Melbourne.

“I have to get through training (on Wednesday) and the captain’s run (on Friday).

“I trained (on Monday) and got a knock on it and it felt OK.

“I was a little bit sore afterwards, but I will get a needle for this game and away we go.”

Reynolds, who celebrates his 32nd birthday on Sunday week, has endured a rollercoaster maiden season at Red Hill.

The skipper missed the entire pre-season due to “general soreness”, had his round 1 blockbuster against former club Souths torpedoed by a bout of Covid, then sat out clashes against Newcastle and the Titans in May with groin and hamstring tightness.

Reynolds clutches his ribs during their stirring Round 14 win over Canberra. Picture: NRL Images

Now Reynolds must overcome busted ribs to steer the Broncos to playoffs redemption, but the premiership-winning playmaker is ready to be targeted by a hungry Cowboys pack led by 115kg weapon Jason Taumalolo.

“It’s probably another eight weeks until it’s 100 per cent again,” Reynolds said.

“The doctors say it’s a week-to-week thing. it depends on how many whacks I get on it, so hopefully the Cowboys defenders run the other way.

“I have a dislocated fracture of one of the ribs. It was pushed inwards so their main concern was doing damage to my lung, but the medical team has done a wonderful job over the last couple of weeks and I feel good enough to play against the Cowboys.

“I think I can handle the contact. The needles are pretty good these days, they take away most of the pain.

Kevin Walters (R) held Reynolds back a further week to manage the injury. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“I was pretty keen to play last week (against Melbourne) but ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) didn’t want to risk further damage. It’s the sign of a great club, looking after their players and not putting themselves first.

“Anyone else who has had this injury knows it’s pretty sore. It’s a contact sport and these things happen. I just have to bite the lip and get on with it.

“I am prepared for the contact. I know what’s coming. I am ready for whatever teams throw at me in games.”

The Broncos, meanwhile, have continued their status as the commercial powerhouse of the NRL after locking in a mega deal with Firstmac until 2027.

The arrangement will see Firstmac appear on the jersey sleeve of the Broncos’ men’s team, plus corporate branding on the back of Brisbane’s NRLW jumper.

“Firstmac is based in Brisbane, is a fantastic Queensland success story and have been a highly-valued member of the Broncos family for more than a decade,” Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said.

“We are proud to be able to continue our partnership with a local business that has such a great connection with its customers and community – something we also aspire to every day at the Broncos.”

BRONCOS ROCKED BY INJURY FEARS

- By Callum Dick and Fatima Kdouh

Brisbane looks set to welcome back skipper Adam Reynolds for Saturday’s blockbuster derby with North Queensland though star prop Payne Haas is in serious doubt after leaving the Blues’ hotel in Perth on Monday in a moon boot.

Reynolds got through a full session on Monday morning and all going well should return from a rib injury to take on the Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

But the Broncos will be sweating scans of Haas’ ankle, hurt late in New South Wales’ 44-12 win over the Maroons on Sunday night.

There are already fears Haas may not be available for the State of Origin decider in Brisbane on July 13 though it’s the Broncos who will be most concerned if the 22-year-old is forced to miss any time – particularly over the next fortnight, with top eight bouts against the Cowboys and Dragons on the schedule.

This latest injury is the third for Haas in the space of six weeks with the forward already carrying separate AC joint complaints to both shoulders.

Haas had both shoulders needled to play on Sunday night.

Payne Haas picked up an ankle injury in Origin (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“I’ve got a few injuries happening at the moment this season, first my shoulders and now my ankle. I have never had that before” Haas said.

“At the end of the year I’ll probably look at what I can do better in the preseason so I can stop this from happening again. I have been lucky, I haven’t had too many injury problems during the years but I don’t know why all of a sudden this year ... I’m frustrated at the moment but I’ll get an MRI on my ankle and see what happens ... but god willing it’s all right. It is what it is. I’m a bit frustrated at the moment. They said it might be a high ankle sprain.”

The forward picked up the injury in an innocuous hit-up during his first carry in the second half.

“It was in the second half, I think it happened in my first run coming back on, I felt something. I thought it was just a cork at first but I couldn’t get going after that, I kept on limping everywhere,” Haas said.

“I need to watch the video again myself, because I’m not sure exactly what happened, it just started getting sore after that hit up. I thought it was cork at first but it just didn’t get better.”

Saturday night’s clash in Townsville looms as a sliding doors game for both sides’ top four hopes as the race to fill spots three and four behind Melbourne and Penrith tightens.

Brisbane sits just outside the top four behind Cronulla on differential and plays the Cowboys (away) and Storm (home) as well as the Eels and Dragons twice each on the run home.

Former Cowboy turned-Broncos starter Corey Jensen said Brisbane would seek revenge for the 38-12 thumping back in round 13 and Reynolds’ likely return comes at the perfect time.

Adam Reynolds is set to return. Picture: NRL Imagery

“They gave us a bit of a touch-up here on our home turf. It’s a good opportunity for us to go up to Townsville and do the same thing to them,” said Jensen, who played 58 games across five seasons in Townsville.

“(Reynolds) trained out there well today and he’s feeling good. There’s still two more sessions to go this week but I think he’s going to be there (on Saturday) and we need him there. He’s our leader and I’m sure he’ll want to be out there himself.”

If Haas does miss Saturday’s clash Jensen was confident the Broncos’ “next man up” approach would be sufficient.

“He does (leave a hole) but I think we’ve shown this year that we’ve worked well as a pack in the middle – the starters and off the bench have done really well,” he said.

“If he is out I’m sure the next person will step up. We’re capable of the job and we’ll lift for him.”

Saturday’s game will be Jensen’s first playing return to Townsville since swapping for the Broncos in the off-season, where he has established himself as a key starter in the club’s resurgent NRL campaign.

“I felt like I wanted a change. I didn’t think my football was going to where I thought it could get to in Townsville,” Jensen said.

“I felt this was a great club I could come to and learn off the young guys but also try to be a bit of a leader among the group. I knew I still had a lot to give in the game and I thought coming here, with a fresh start, I could put my all in and see what happens.

“You always want to get one-up against your old side and it being my first time going up north and playing back up there it’s definitely going to be a bit of extra feeling, a bit more motivation there, but I think the whole side is motivated (after) they did a number on us down here.

“The derbies are always a close contest no matter where you are on the ladder. With both teams going well and both teams having guys backing up from Origin it will be whoever wants it more (that will win) I think.”

Originally published as Brisbane Broncos 2022: Adam Reynolds injury update, will have painkilling injections in bid to play