Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis won’t be moved to halves to cover Adam Reynolds loss

MICHAEL Maguire won’t be tempted to move Greg Inglis back into the halves to cover the loss of South Sydney’s star playmaker Adam Reynolds.

Rabbitohs Adam Reynolds during Charity Shield NRL match South Sydney Rabbitohs v St. George-Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium. Picture. Phil Hillyard

MICHAEL Maguire won’t be tempted to move Greg Inglis back into the halves to cover the loss of South Sydney’s star playmaker Adam Reynolds for the opening rounds of the premiership.

The Rabbitohs have suffered a major setback with Reynolds ruled out for up to four weeks with appendicitis.

While his absence will be a huge loss for the Rabbitohs who kick off their season on Friday night against the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, Maguire will weigh up his options to partner Cody Walker.

Reynolds will be racing the clock to be fit for Round 4.

He was adamant Inglis would not be shifted. “No, he is our fullback,” he said.

Luke Kelly, who joined the club from Parramatta, is the frontrunner while Maguire said John Sutton and Damien Cook would also be considered.

“I can put Johnny Sutton there if need be, we have Luke Kelly and Damien Cook could fill a role there as well,” Maguire said.

“Cookie has played a fair bit there through training during the pre-season so there are various options there we can have a look at.”

Maguire said Reynolds had to withdraw from training on Wednesday after complaining of severe pain.

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The little halfback drove himself to hospital that night and had surgery on Thursday.

Reynolds looked in great touch in the Charity Shield win over St George Illawarra last Sunday.

“It is just one of those thing you have to deal with,” Maguire said.

“Adam has been in really good form right throughout the pre-season and he is in great shape.

“But you can’t do much about the appendix. When they go, they go. He was in a fair bit of pain at training the other day so he said ‘I’d better go see the doc’. Sure enough we got the news which was a bit of a shame.

“I felt for Adam because he has put a lot of work in and he was really looking forward to the season.”

Maguire said it was up to the rest of the squad to lift in Reynolds’ absence, with the 2014 premiers looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs last year.

“It is unfortunate but it also gives the other guys who have been working hard in the background an opportunity too,” he said.

“So we have some good cover there and we have got some good depth too at the moment.

“These sort of things happen.

“We know he is not going to be there for round one. We will just get him back as soon as we can.”