South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire backs ex-NSW Blue Adam Reynolds to revive career

RABBITOHS coach Michael Maguire has backed struggling half Adam Reynolds to rediscover form, starting this week against the Gold Coast Titans.

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THIS time last year, South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds was preparing to play Origin for the Blues.

Twelve months later, Reynolds is battling to produce his finest form in a struggling Souths side.

Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire even concedes some of the criticism aimed at his halfback has been justified.

However, he has full faith Reynolds can return to his best — starting in Friday’s must-win clash against the Gold Coast at ANZ Stadium.

“We all have challenges in and around the game at some stages and I guess people would be looking at him (Adam) and saying that,” Maguire said.

Adam Reynolds needs to pick up his game to help the Rabbitohs find form. Picture: Mark Evans

“And rightly so in some areas of his game, but he is one player that has put a lot of time in over the last couple of months to turn that around.

“And that happens in people’s careers. But if he keeps sticking to the stuff that he has been focused on then he’ll get his game that we are all after.”

Maguire knows Reynolds is capable of performing in the critical moments and he expects him to do so against Gold Coast on Friday.

The Rabbitohs mentor says last Friday’s gutsy loss to Brisbane has given his side the belief they can end their three-game losing streak.

“I thought the way we went about our game on the weekend (against Brisbane) was definitely our style, but for us it’s the consistency,” he said.

Adam Reynolds during South Sydney Rabbitohs training at Redfern oval. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We’ve got to take what we’ve been learning over this little period and make sure we take it into Friday.

“The boys have got really good spirits. We’ve put out some reasonable performances, but we haven’t been able to get the win. So it’s about getting out there and getting the job done.”

Maguire says club stalwart John Sutton is particularly motivated to return to the Rabbitohs to the winner’s circle.

Sutton will play his 300th club game across all grades for Souths on Friday — a huge accomplishment according to his coach.

“That is a great milestone,” he said.

“It will be a bigger one when he reaches the 300 games in first grade, because there aren’t too many players that get to do that.

“It’s a great credit to him. When I first walked into the organisation, John was a quiet player and just went about what he needed to.

“But now he is a real leader among the players and he has really grown over the time I’ve been here

“To see him reach these types of milestones is a real credit to him.

“This club means a lot to him and his family and he means a lot to everyone in this community.

“I know he is very hungry to get us into the right place this weekend and get the job done.”