NRL 2021: Expansion team Brisbane Jets keen on Adam Reynolds-Wayne Bennett package

South Sydney’s refusal to budge on a one-year deal for Adam Reynolds could play into the hands on the NRL’s 17th team.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 23: Adam Reynolds of the Rabbitohs is tackled by Darius Boyd of the Broncos during the round 23 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on August 23, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Expansion hopefuls the Brisbane Jets have put out the welcome mat for Adam Reynolds to spearhead the NRL’s 17th team in a possible package deal with his departing Souths coach Wayne Bennett.

As revealed by News Corp in February, the Jets have held talks with Bennett — Reynolds’ mentor at Souths — with a view to the super coach taking charge of a proposed second Brisbane team in 2023.

Bennett confirmed the approach on Wednesday, and now the Jets are circling Reynolds, who will be a free agent for 2023 if he chooses to back himself by agreeing to South Sydney‘s year-by-year contract plan.

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The Rabbitohs are not budging from a 12-month extension and while Reynolds prefers a multi-year deal, his manager Steve Gillis said the 30-year-old has not officially rejected Souths’ proposal at this stage.

Reynolds’ preference is to remain at the Redfern club he led to the 2014 premiership and should he do so for one more year, it would make him hot property in 2022 if the NRL expands to a 17-team competition.

The NRL will make an expansion call by July, meaning a new second Brisbane team would have to act immediately this year to build a competitive roster.

Brisbane Jets officials Nick Livermore (left) and Steve Johnson have held talks with Wayne Bennett and are ready to target Souths halfback Adam Reynolds for 2023.

Brisbane Jets bid chief Nick Livermore said the prospect of a Bennett-Reynolds reunification alliance would be a mouth-watering prospect for any start-up NRL franchise.

“Adam Reynolds is definitely on our radar,” Livermore said.

“We would need to fill all 30 spots from day one, so we need to get moving quickly and we have to assess everyone that is on the market at the end of 2022.

“Scott Sattler (former Titans foundation football manager) is looking at our possible roster and he has been doing a great job putting a list of targets together.

“He has identified a range of talent that is available for 2023.

“Someone of Adam’s capability, if he signed a one-year deal for Souths for 2022, we would absolutely look at him, particularly if someone like Wayne Bennett was to head up a second Brisbane team.”

The Jets are targeting a Wayne Bennett-Adam Reynolds ticket in 2023. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Gillis hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Rabbitohs local junior Reynolds smoking the peace-pipe with South Sydney hierarchy given his 211 games of service for the club.

But Gillis added Reynolds is open to a move to Queensland — either with the Broncos, Cowboys or a second Brisbane team — if he can’t strike a deal at Souths.

“Look, we would love for him to stay, there is a one-year deal and Adam hasn’t rejected it at this stage,” Gillis said.

“Adam is open to all offers, but he wouldn’t be moving to Queensland if there’s no offer for him.”

Asked if Souths are open to a two-year deal, Gillis said: “No, they aren’t. There is a possibility Adam could do a one-year deal with Souths and then be a free agent the following year.

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“There is not a player on the planet that doesn’t want security of contract. There are lots of variable in this game, players can suddenly retire from injuries or concussions.

“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.”

Livermore believes Bennett would be a huge magnet for off-contract players if he took charge of a second Brisbane team. Redcliffe are also eyeing off the 71-year-old coaching icon.

“The rapport he has with his players is second to none,” he said.

“The only guys who come close to him are Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson.

“Our first goal is to secure a licence for 2023. We need to provide somewhere for these guys to play, but we‘ve had contact with Wayne Bennett and he has a great relationship with Reynolds at Souths.

“There is only one coach who could have got that Queensland team to Origin victory last year and the players who want to play for Wayne speaks to his ability.

“A lot of players and agents are wisely aligning themselves to be off-contract next year to position themselves to be available for a second Brisbane team.”

Broncos keep eye on Reynolds contract spat

- Peter Badel and Travis Meyn

Broncos recruitment chiefs have discussed the possibility of signing Adam Reynolds as the Souths halfback prepares to explore options following his contract spat with the Rabbitohs.

Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee have held talks weighing up the pros and cons of signing Reynolds, who can further impress Broncos hierarchy in Thursday night’s clash at Stadium Australia.

Reynolds is resigned to leaving Souths at season’s end after the Rabbitohs’ recruitment-and-retention panel refused to budge on a 12-month extension for the off-contract playmaker.

Adam Reynolds has had many tough battles with the Broncos over the years.

News Corp understands the Broncos have internally raised the prospect of signing Reynolds, but at this stage have not expressed interest to his manager, Steve Gillis, nor tabled a formal contract offer.

Reynolds, who turns 31 in July, is seeking a two or three-year deal worth around $700,000 a season, a price tag the Broncos would presently struggle to meet under their salary cap for next season.

Whether the Broncos can afford Reynolds could hinge on the club’s ability to retain off-contract strike-weapon Kotoni Staggs, who is tipped to shun the Titans and stay at Brisbane on a multimillion-dollar deal.

The Broncos have room to move at their scrumbase, with Anthony Milford and Tom Dearden both off-contract, while halfback Brodie Croft‘s three-year deal at Brisbane expires at the end of 2022.

Broncos recruitment chiefs believe Reynolds could be a valuable mentor for their younger core, particularly for 20-year-old Dearden, but are wary of making a formal move given Souths’ concerns about the halfback being an injury risk in his 30s.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters said he has one eye on the player market, but is reluctant to chase Reynolds “at this stage” if there is a risk he could lose Dearden to the Cowboys, whose initial interest in the Rabbitohs playmaker has cooled.

Reynolds has been a Redfern staple since 2012.

“We’re always in the market. Every club is on the lookout if players become available,” Walters said.

“We will be looking, but right now we’re trying to re-sign four or five of our junior players.

“There’s a big, bad world out there in the player market and my job is to coach the side.

“We’ve got other people in our organisation to look after those areas.”

Incoming Souths coach Jason Demetriou, who will replace Wayne Bennett in the Redfern hot seat next year, has appealed for Reynolds not to walk out on the club he helped to a premiership in 2014.

“I’ve spoken to Adam, I want him to stay and hopefully finish his career at Souths,” Demetriou said.

Incoming Souths coach Jason Demetriou is determined to keep Reynolds at Redfern.

“This (contract talk) is part of the game, so it’s a process we are all going through.

“Adam’s been great with his attitude. Our focus this year is winning a premiership and Adam is committed to that as much as anyone at the club.”

The Reynolds camp is filthy at suggestions the 210-game stalwart is on a modified training program and in danger of breaking down with a back problem.

“We are still looking at a three-year deal,” his manager, Gillis said.

“I’m not saying he wouldn’t accept a two-year deal but if he was to pack up and leave home, he will look at a three-year deal.

“He is 30 now so I don’t consider three years to be ridiculous.

“I expect that if it’s still a one-year deal, we will go to market and he won’t be at the club.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Expansion team Brisbane Jets keen on Adam Reynolds-Wayne Bennett package