Bulldogs’ Josh Reynolds to use Nines to reignite Blues career

JOSH Reynolds wants to use the flamboyant Auckland Nines as a key starting point to catapult back into NSW’s State of Origin side.

Dean Ritchie

@BulldogRitchie

2 min read

November 24, 2015 - 10:00PM

Josh Reynolds of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking the winning field goal in Golden point extra time during the Canterbury Bulldogs v St George Illawarra Dragons NRL Finals game at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. pic Mark Evans

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HE wants to use the flamboyant Auckland Nines as a key starting point to catapult back into NSW’s State of Origin side.

Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds is craving a return to the Blues side after being dumped for the 2015 series.

And what better way to kickstart his representative career with a bold and cheeky showing at the season-starting Nines.

On Tuesday, Reynolds showed off Canterbury’s new-look Nines jumper for The Daily Telegraph. The Dogs jersey will also carry the White Ribbon logo.

He played a significant role in NSW’s historic 2014 series win but NSW went without Reynolds last series. And his axing still stings.

“It definitely burns inside me, mate,” Reynolds told The Daily Telegraph last night. “It’s a different type of burn to anything I have ever had before.

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Canterbury star Josh Reynolds in the Bulldogs Jersey for the Auckland Nines. Picture Gregg Porteous

“Origin is something I have already done and then had it taken off me. It comes down to myself not performing at the start of this year.

“I want to get back there and have another crack because I love the arena. We won the year before but that’s not to say you automatically get your jersey back.

“Being apart of the group that broke the (eight-year) drought — that is something no-one will ever be able to take off that team. I will never forget that.

“But then again I just don’t want to sit on that for the rest of my career. I want to play ten or more (Origin) games. There are players in my team at the Dogs that have and I know how much it means to them. It meant a lot to me but now it’s different, I have to get it back now.”

And Reynolds wants to play Nines football after missing the past two tournaments through injury. Reynolds, with his feisty nature and snappy footwork, would be ideally suited to Nines.

“I haven’t played in the Nines yet because I’ve been unfortunately injured the last two years but if I got the nod to go over there, it would be a good hit-out,” Reynolds said. “It’s definitely not easy, I’ve been watching them from home and it looks like a real struggle. It would be a good challenge to kick-off the season.”

With Trent Hodkinson now at Newcastle, Reynolds can settle in this season and form a robust halves combination with Moses Mbye.

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that Mbye was on the verge of re-signing a long-term deal with Canterbury.

“It would be massive,” Reynolds said. “I have spoken to ‘Mo’ (Mbye) over the time that it’s going on. He is just trying to figure out what’s best for him and his family.

“I know he loves the club and I hope he enjoys playing with me because I want to create a good partnership with him and create the bond myself and Trent had. You also want to be really good mates off the field. I really hope he stays because he will be a great asset for the club. He is learning and learning.”