NRL 2024: Adam Reynolds set to take pay cut to extend Brisbane Broncos deal to 2025

Now that Ezra Mam is locked in long-term at the Broncos, the dazzling five-eighth has a message for halves partner Adam Reynolds, who his set to extend is stay at the club.

Adam Reynolds & Ezra Mam. Picture: Adam Head

Adam Reynolds is set to take a pay cut to extend his career at the Broncos as halves partner Ezra Mam declared they have the scrumbase strikeforce to smash Brisbane’s 18-year title drought.

The Broncos are in the advanced stages of talks with Reynolds and are on track to announce a 12-month extension for their champion skipper before their season opener against the Roosters in Las Vegas on March 3 (AEDT).

And such is Reynolds’ love for the club, the former South Sydney ace is willing to take less to stay to keep his lethal partnership with Mam intact.

Just turned 21, Mam inked a five-year, $4 million mega deal on Tuesday and the five-eighth whiz-kid backed Brisbane’s plans to extend Reynolds, insisting they are the master-and-apprentice magic act to deliver Brisbane’s first premiership since 2006.

“I’d like to see him sign on as long as he can, as long as his legs work,” Mam said of his senior halves cohort Reynolds.

“He has been very good for me in my learning the last couple of years.

Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam have formed a dynamic halves partnership. Picture: Adam Head

“Having him as a mentor in my career has been very helpful and I can see my game developing even more because of a player like him.”

Reynolds, who turns 34 in July, has been a crucial sounding board for Mam.

The 274-game playmaker has pulled the strings of a Broncos machine that charged to last year’s grand final, in the process allowing Mam to play what he sees with his matchwinning instincts and flashy feet.

Reynolds was initially expected to retire after completing his three-year deal with the Broncos, but such has been the skipper’s sizzling form, he will sign on for another term.

Reynolds is on $800,000 this season, but his salary will decrease in 2025, giving the Broncos extra funds to upgrade Mam, whose superb hat-trick in last year’s decider almost propelled Brisbane to title supremacy.

Asked if he and Reynolds can take the Broncos all the way this season, Mam said: “No doubt.

“It is not just ‘Reyno’. It is the whole team and staff included ... and the support system at the club.

Adam Reynolds helped steer the Broncos to last year’s grand final. Picture: Adam Head

“It is about us all having a clear head and knowing what the goal is.

“We are not just going into a season looking to play footy. We like to go into a season winning. The main goal is for us to win the grand final.”

It is understood the Dolphins offered Mam in excess of $900,000 a season to spearhead a new era at Redcliffe, but the playmaker said he never once considered leaving.

“I never looked any further than the Broncos,” Mam said.

“I grew up a big Broncos fan, I debuted here and they have looked after me since I was a young kid, 13, coming into the development system.

“That loyalty the club has showed me made the decision very easy for me. I’m happy to spend a lot more time at the Broncos.

“All that interest was through my management and I told my management that I didn’t want to look further than the Broncos and that’s the way we handled it.

“I was surprised to hear about all the reports about the Dolphins, but I didn’t look that far.

“There’s a big future here at the club with all the young boys coming through. Hopefully we can put it together and with people like ‘Reyno’ at the club as well, he can guide us in the years ahead.”

Mam confirmed he had withdrawn from Friday week’s Indigenous-Maori All Stars clash in Townsville.

“It is a little niggle in my groin. It is not too serious. I will be back on the field,” he said.

“I had to manage my load a bit. I put all my trust in the performance staff at the club.

“It was disappointing to pull out of it for the second year now but who knows, it could be third time lucky next year.

“Hopefully I can play in the game. It has always been a big goal to represent my culture on the big stage.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Adam Reynolds set to take pay cut to extend Brisbane Broncos deal to 2025