NRL 2021: Broncos’ secret talks to bring Adam Reynolds to Brisbane

Brisbane’s hierarchy will go all-in in their attempt to sign Adam Reynolds in secret talks this weekend – and the Broncos have a trump card that could seal the deal.

Adam Reynolds in action for the Rabbitohs against the Raiders at GIO Stadium. Picture: Gary Ramage/NRL Photos

Brisbane powerbrokers will fly to Sydney on Saturday for secret talks with Adam Reynolds armed with a $2 million-plus offer and the Broncos captaincy in a last-ditch bid to bring the Souths maestro to Red Hill.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Broncos coach Kevin Walters will personally meet with Reynolds to spruik his vision for a Red Hill revolution in the strongest sign yet the Rabbitohs ace is Brisbane’s No.1 playmaking target.

As part of Brisbane’s pitch, Reynolds will be offered one of the most prestigious roles in the code, the Broncos captaincy, with current skipper Alex Glenn expected to retire at season’s end.

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The Broncos will offer Adam Reynolds the captaincy if he decides to come to Red Hill. Picture: Gary Ramage

New Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy officially starts on Saturday and one of his first tasks is ramping-up the Broncos’ poaching bid for Reynolds amid speculation the Souths halfback is poised to defect to Cronulla.

Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention arm held discussions on Thursday night to escalate their interest in Reynolds to a formal offer and Donaghy has rubber-stamped Walters’ mission to sign the premiership No.7.

Donaghy is putting his stamp on Brisbane immediately and is tipped to join Walters for the Reynolds negotiations in an eleventh-hour bid to blow the Sharks out of the water.

Donaghy and Walters will meet on Saturday morning to discuss their Redfern raid as Brisbane look to successfully engineer one of the most important signings in the club’s 33-year history.

The Broncos are mindful of a Sydney report that Reynolds’ move to Cronulla on a three-year, $2.4 million contract is a done deal, prompting Walters to urgently request a face-to-face meeting with Reynolds and his management.

It is understood Brisbane will also table a three-year deal worth around $800,000 a season.

The offer of captaining Brisbane, which would put Reynolds alongside famous Broncos skippers such as Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis, Gorden Tallis and Allan Langer, could be a decisive carrot for the former NSW Origin halfback.

Despite reports Reynolds has no interest in moving his wife and four kids to Queensland, the Souths veteran has told Rabbitohs insiders he is open to living in Brisbane – and Walters is ready to strike.

Walters told The Courier-Mail on Thursday he is very confident of delivering a senior playmaker to the Broncos for 2022 and beyond.

“The plan is to get someone and I believe we will,” he said.

“I won’t name names but yes I’m after an experienced playmaker.

Brisbane Broncos new CEO Dave Donaghy.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters.

“That’s my priority and that’s what I am looking for certainly.

“Every top-four team has dominant playmaker.

“That is not something that has just dawned upon me, I know it’s a key area for us to address and that’s what we are looking to do.”

Should the Broncos lose out to the Sharks in the battle for Reynolds, Brisbane’s No.2 target is believed to be off-contract Cronulla playmaker Shaun Johnson.

The Broncos cannot afford Mitchell Moses, who is tipped to sign an extended deal with the Eels, while Gareth Widdop, Aidan Sezer and Canberra’s Sam Williams are others on Brisbane’s radar.

Reynolds’ manager Steve Gillis said a fortnight ago the 30-year-old would not rule out a move to Queensland.

“Adam is open to all offers,” he said.

“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.”

After he terrorised Brisbane in a 35-6 victory at Stadium Australia in round five, Reynolds said there is genuine appeal in playing for the powerful Broncos brand.

“I see it pretty similar to Souths — they’re a passionate supporter base, they’re obviously a big club,” Reynolds said.

“They’ve been a powerhouse for a number of years. Obviously they’re not travelling too well at the moment but they’ve got a lot of future stars in that side.

“I think they are a great club. They have potential there. They still have a young side. Their halves are trying really hard, they are just lacking confidence at the moment.”