NRL 2023: Broncos coach Kevin Walters reveals Adam Reynolds ‘doubtful’ for Storm clash

Kevin Walters has revealed Adam Reynolds’ calf injury could rule the captain out for the remainder of the regular season as a home semi-final goes on the line.

Adam Reynolds. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

The Broncos are considering resting Adam Reynolds until the finals to ensure Brisbane’s injured champion does not suffer a catastrophic season-ending breakdown on the eve of the playoffs.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters told this masthead he will take no risks with Reynolds and is set to put his star skipper in cotton wool to ensure he is fully fit and firing for the Broncos’ finals campaign.

Reynolds injured his calf at a Broncos opposed session last Friday, a surprise training mishap that will see him miss Saturday night’s difficult road trip to face the Raiders in Canberra.

The premiership maestro was expected to return for Brisbane’s final-round clash against Melbourne on Thursday week, but Walters revealed he will not force Reynolds to rush back for the Melbourne blockbuster.

He is confident Brisbane’s most important player will be available for the club’s first finals campaign since 2019.

“I reckon he is doubtful (for the Storm game) I would say,” Walters said.

“If ‘Reyno’ can play next week we won’t hold him back, but it just depends on how his recovery goes.

Adam Reynolds is ‘doubtful’ for Brisbane’s final regular season game. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

“We won’t risk him. If he is fit to play, he plays and if he’s not, we won’t pick him.

“Reyno will be the best judge of it all. He will know whether he can play or not. If he can’t play we’re OK with that, the most important thing is to make sure he is there in good shape through the finals.

“He wants to get back and play, no player likes missing games, but given it’s a short turnaround - we are back on Thursday week against the Storm - that makes it a bit tighter, too, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Reynolds’ potential scratching for the rest of the regular season could have massive repercussions for Brisbane’s hopes of a home semi-final at their Suncorp cauldron.

The Broncos (17-5) enter the Raiders clash in second spot, but mathematically they are still in danger of losing a home semi-final berth to the third-placed Warriors on percentages if Brisbane drop their final two matches.

The Warriors (36 competition points) are two wins behind Brisbane (40) and have an inferior differential (-136 to -213), but that could change if they beat the Dragons (h) and Dolphins (a) in their final two games.

As it stands, the Broncos will host the Warriors in week one of the finals at Suncorp, but the worst-case scenario would see Brisbane travel to New Zealand to face the resurgent Kiwi outfit.

Ironically, the Reynolds setback occurred during a bye week when Broncos players were expected to put their feet up.

Walters is mindful of the delicate nature of calf injuries, the very ailment that saw South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell miss the entire Origin series this year.

“Calf injuries can be tricky, but we have good trust in our medical staff and Reyno is a pretty good healer, he doesn’t miss many games,” Walters said.

“We had an opposed training session on the Friday and 10 minutes in, it gave him a bit of grief.

A home final could hinge on Jock Madden. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

“I didn’t think it was too much at the time but we got the scans and there is a little bit of trouble there so we’ll get the medical staff to sort him out and get him back on the field.”

Walters backed Reynolds’ replacement Jock Madden, who was outstanding filling in for the skipper in Brisbane’s 30-14 rout of the Cowboys three weeks ago, to fire against the Green Machine.

“Jock can step up,” he said.

“We want to win even if Adam’s not there. We have Jock Madden who is very capable. If Reyno is not available for however many games, I have faith in Jock to strap on the boots and get out there.

“It’s a good opportunity for Jock to play some big end-of-season games as well.”

In a boost for the Broncos, star winger Selwyn Cobbo will travel to Canberra.

The Queensland Origin flyer missed Broncos training on Monday following the passing of a family member, but Cobbo told Brisbane staffers on Tuesday he is keen to take on the Green Machine.

SILVER LINING TO REYNOLDS INJURY

- Robert Craddock

The Broncos are confident of avoiding a Sam Kerr saga with Adam Reynolds’ calf injury, sensing it may yet deliver two hidden bonuses.

The first is that it gives the veteran halfback a rest before the finals and the second is that it helps the team mature without him at a time when they can afford to lose at least one game.

But those two factors only become beneficial if Reynolds’ injury is not serious and early signs are he may only miss Saturday’s away match against the Canberra Raiders.

Reynolds had a compression bandage on his calf on Monday but it is understood that had this weekend’s match been a final he may have considered playing.

Jock Madden, who shone when Reynolds missed the 30-14 win over North Queensland, will return a more confident player for his last start success.

“Jock has been great for us,’’ prop Tom Flegler said.

“He played a couple of weeks ago and got the job done.

Adam Reynolds is set to miss one game. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

“It is probably a good time for Reyno to get a rest and we are fully confident in what Jock can do.

“The team gets a lot of confidence out of performances like (against the Cowboys). We also had players out in the Origin period and came away with a few wins.

“There is no better example of that than Penrith. When they have players out (those that fill in) do the job.

“The players we have called up have done a great job.”

The Broncos, who had been appalling on the road in recent seasons, have been exceptional this season with 10 wins and loss.

The pattern was set early with a first round win against Penrith and the robust fibre of the team away from home has flared hopes that the Broncos 17 year premiership drought is about to end.

Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo missed Monday’s training for personal reasons, while Corey Oates trained on the left wing and is primed to play his 200th game if required.

If Cobbo is absent it saves coach Kevin Walters from having to choose between Oates and Jesse Arthars, who returns from a head knock.

Bookmakers have decided the premiership is a race in three with Penrith ($2.20) and the Broncos ($3.50) likely to finish the top two and the Storm ($7) their main danger.

Flegler, like Herbie Farnworth, is leaving for the Dolphins at the end of this season and the duo are highly motivated to make the most of their best chance to win a title.