‘Devastating’: Adam Reynolds injury disaster leaves NRL heartbroken

Adam Reynolds is a champion of rugby league but the Broncos captain has left the competition heartbroken after his latest setback.

Heartbreaking scenes from the sheds at halftime. photo: Fox Sports

The Melbourne Storm pulled off a great escape in a 34-32 thriller over Brisbane but the NRL world has been rocked after Broncos captain Adam Reynolds was in tears at halftime over his latest injury setback.

In the shadow of halftime having largely been the puppetmaster behind the Broncos’ 18-16 lead, Reynolds ran into Cameron Munster in an innocuous moment that may have seen a knee-on-knee clash and left the star halfback clutching his heavily strapped right leg.

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It’s a leg that has caused him plenty of issues in recent times.

While he was limping, Reynolds did get back into the line before grubbering into the in-goal which ended the first half.

However, the 33-year-old champion punched the ground as he left the field and it was the start of some horrible scenes.

As the cameras found Reynolds in the sheds, the captain was clearly emotionally overwhelmed.

“You can see the devastation on his face, it doesn’t look like he’s coming back,” Michael Ennis said at halftime.

“This is a devastating blow for Brisbane.”

Heartbreaking scenes from the sheds at halftime. photo: Fox Sports

Reynolds was indeed ruled out of the remainder of the match with fears it was a meniscus injury.

However, on Channel 9, Danika Mason reported the Broncos staff said it was “a strain to his lower hamstring”.

Fox confirmed soon after, saying the team was hopeful it was a “low-grade” hamstring strain.

“Somewhat relieving news for Adam Reynolds and the Broncos. Initial fears was he had that knee on knee contact with Cam Munster,” Lara Pitt said.

“However once he got into the sheds and spoke with the Broncos doctors he revealed that he felt hamstring tightness. After further assessment they are hopeful it is a low grade strain to his hamstring.

“I guess a much better diagnosis than a very serious knee injury.”

In the press conference, Reynolds said the hamstring “didn’t feel good at half-time” but that he’d go back to Brisbane and get a scan.

“I felt it early on in the game and it gradually got worse,” Reynolds said.

“I tried to take off... I was trying to get through to half-time and see where it was at but I saw some space on the short side, tried to take it. Didn’t feel too good there.”

However, he wasn’t about to speculate on how bad it may or may not have been.

But Reynolds has had a horror run with injury in recent times and questions have arisen about how much more punishment his body will allow him to go through.

Fans were devastated about the sad sight of Reynolds upset in the changerooms.

Reporter Robert Smith tweeted: “Yet another setback, it’s all catching up with Adam Reynolds and Broncos hopes hinge so much on him.”

Reporter Mark Gottlieb posted: “Gee, you don’t often see Adam Reynolds show that kind of emotion. Looks shattered in the sheds. Another knee injury would be so frustrating.”

The All Things Rugby League X account commented: “Hamstring for Reynolds! That’s a relief.”

This was the moment. Photo: Fox Sports

Reynolds knew his night was done. Photo: Fox Sports

Another fan wrote: “Heart breaks for Reynolds.”

Another said: “Heartbreaking watching Reynolds in the sheds.”

A third said: “I feel for Reynolds. All the ability is still there, even enough speed to do what he needs to, just his body won’t let him.”

Before the season, Reynolds extended his deal until the end of the 2025 season.

While the injury may be not as bad as first fear, Andrew Johns asked: “If he is not there this year can they win the comp without him?”

“It makes it more difficult for a couple of reasons,” Cameron Smith said.

“First up is his experience. He’s been around the game a long time and showed his experience last year taking it all the way to the grand final and nearly won it against the Panthers but his kicking game we have discussed how good it is.

“Or how good it has been tonight. Possibly the best kicking game in the competition.

“You thought it might have been a reoccurrence of a knee problem but I don’t know whether it’s a positive thing that may be hamstring related but certainly Adam Reynolds was most upset. You can see most downtrodden on the bench. Just can’t get the momentum with his body.”

Without Reynolds, the Broncos young guns didn’t disgrace themselves, only falling behind when Tyran Wishart scored in the 73rd minute to take a 28-26 lead.

A try for Jahrome Hughes made it an eight-point lead with four minutes left.

But in a classic finish, Benjamin Te Kura barged over off the next set to cut the lead to two.

One last attacking raid finished with a kick from Tristan Sailor floating too deep as the Storm only just held on in a wild shootout.

Originally published as ‘Devastating’: Adam Reynolds injury disaster leaves NRL heartbroken