NRL 2024: Broncos captain Adam Reynolds suffers hamstring injury in heartbreaking Storm loss

Brisbane’s injury crisis has claimed its biggest casualty, with captain Adam Reynolds’ latest leg injury compounded by a heartbreaking loss to Melbourne. Watch the incident.

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The Broncos face a nervous wait after champion skipper Adam Reynolds broke down with a fresh injury drama to compound Brisbane’s heartstopping 34-32 loss to Melbourne on Thursday night.

In an AAMI Park thriller, one of the games of the 2024 premiership was marred by Reynolds hobbling off with a hamstring complaint as Brisbane’s horror 2778-day drought in Melbourne continued.

Already battling a knee injury, halfback Reynolds suffered another setback when he collided with Storm rival Cameron Munster on the stroke of halftime.

A shattered Reynolds fought back tears in the sheds as he failed to return for the second half, but in his absence, the braveheart Broncos battled superbly.

Under siege, the Broncos found heroes in Tristan Sailor, Jesse Arthars, Selwyn Cobbo and Ezra Mam, whose freakish second try in the 50th minute gave Brisbane hope of victory at 24-16.

But the Storm held their nerve, with tries to Tyran Wishart (74th) and Jahrome Hughes (77th) rubbing salt into the wounds of a gutsy Broncos side that hasn’t saluted in Melbourne since 2016.

“When you score 32 points and still lose ... it’s not acceptable,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters fired.

“There were a couple of soft tries. We didn’t deserve to win.”

Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds cut a forlorn figure in the sheds. Picture: Fox Sports

ADAM BOMB

Reynolds is in grave doubt for next Friday’s battle of Brisbane against Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

“My hamstring tightened up in that first half,” he said.

“I felt it early on in the game and it got worse.

“I don’t know how bad it is, we’ll get scans and go from there.”

Adam Reynolds won’t return tonight with what the Broncos hope is a “minor hamstring issue”.

Very innocuous non-contact mechanism. Same leg he had just returned from an MCL injury - possible compensation issue here?

If truly a minor strain most back in under a month. pic.twitter.com/PyX01cQecG

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 4, 2024

MAN OH MAM

Without his senior halves partner, Mam scored two spectacular tries to keep Brisbane alive.

A Billy Walters downfield kick in the 50th minute looked largely innocuous until it took a wicked bounce and Mam came from the clouds, spearing past hapless Storm defenders to give Brisbane a crucial 24-16 lead.

Mam had his tough moments. Twice he was exposed in defence as Storm back-rower Eli Katoa posted a double, but the Broncos pivot was a constant menace in his best game of the season.

Ultimately, Brisbane’s depleted halves were outpointed by Storm champions Munster and Hughes, who returned from injury and suspension respectively to torment the Broncos.

TOWER OF TERROR

In a seesawing affair befitting an NRL grand final, Broncos giant Ben Te Kura enjoyed a fine debut.

The tallest player in NRL history at 205cm, the hulking 19-year-old posted 109 metres and three tackle busts and capped a superb maiden outing when he crashed over in the final minute to whittle the deficit to 34-32.

“Ben went really well,” Walters said. “He is pretty lethal close to the line.”

Jesse Arthars bombed a certain try in the dying stages. Picture: NRL

JESSE’S PAIN

Broncos winger Arthars deserved better than the tryscoring blunder that helped the Storm conjure a great escape.

The Maori All stars flyer produced a sublime infield kick for Mam’s 27th-minute try before showing sizzling pace to win the race for a Reynolds kick four minutes later to give Brisbane a stunning 18-10 lead.

But Arthars’ fine display, including 160 metres and five tackle busts, was stained by his moment to forget, inexplicably spilling a Cobbo pass with the line wide open 16 minutes from time as Brisbane clung to a 24-22 lead.

Arthars could have buried the Storm. Instead, Melbourne stayed on life support ... then plunged the dagger to kill off the Broncos.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Broncos captain Adam Reynolds suffers hamstring injury in heartbreaking Storm loss