NRL 2024: Adam Reynolds hits back at Gorden Tallis after calling for him to be stripped of the Broncos captaincy
Embattled Adam Reynolds has hit back at Gorden Tallis over calls for him to be sacked as Broncos captain, going on to slam suggestions the Broncos players are acting like “rock stars”.
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Embattled Adam Reynolds has hit back at Gorden Tallis over calls for him to be sacked as Broncos captain and declared he is the right man to skipper Brisbane to a drought-breaking premiership.
In one of the most candid interviews of his career, Reynolds slammed suggestions the Broncos are acting like “rock stars” and insists he wants to retain the captaincy to snap Brisbane’s 18-year title drought.
Broncos great Gorden Tallis sensationally called for Reynolds to be stripped of Brisbane’s captaincy following the club’s dramatic crash from grand finalists to cellar dwellers.
But Reynolds says he has no plans to walk away from the captaincy and scuppered claims Broncos players have lost their hunger following a spate of on and off-field dramas, including a drunken wrestling spat in pre-season.
Asked on Triple M’s Rush Hour show if believes he is the right man to captain Brisbane to their first premiership since 2006, Reynolds said: “Yes, I believe so.
“I have been bagged and pushed down my whole career. I understand the pressure that comes with it.
“But one of the greatest coaches in my career, Wayne Bennett, told me if you listen to the spectators, you end up sitting with them.
“It’s great advice.
“I’m not ready to sit in the stands yet. I still believe I am the right man for the job and until ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) or anyone else says otherwise, I will do it.”
The Broncos’ hopes of avenging last year’s grand final loss to Penrith are on life support following seven losses in their past eight games.
Sitting 13th on the ladder, Brisbane must beat the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday and win all remaining five matches of the regular season to keep its faint finals hopes alive.
It has been a stunning downward spiral for the Broncos since the club went within three minutes of winning last year’s NRL premiership.
Tallis, who captained the Broncos in 82 games, has been a critic of Reynolds since the heartbreaking loss to Penrith in which Brisbane squandered what looked like a premiership-winning lead.
The ‘Raging Bull’ says Queensland Origin forward Pat Carrigan should captain the Broncos.
“I think the team is lacking leadership,” Tallis said on NRL 360.
“I watch them closely … on Saturday (in their 41-16 loss to the Bulldogs) somebody needed to stand up and put a stake in the ground.
“(Reynolds) didn’t do it, and in the grand final he didn’t get them home either.
“If he’s the captain and he’s not doing it, there might be a chance to put Pat Carrigan there.
“Maybe there should be a change with who gets the ‘C’ next to their name.”
But Reynolds insists he has the support of the playing group.
“I believe so. I do believe they do (support him),” he said.
“I get the luxury of working five and six days a week with these guys and I see the hard work we put in. I stand with them every week in the line and unless I feel otherwise, I will keep doing my job.
“There’s no reason to talk to Kevvie (about the captaincy).
“If he wants to go in a different direction, my job won’t change regardless of whether I have the ‘C’ next to my name.
“I still have a job to do out there. I still have to play my role in the team and that’s the role of a halfback.”
The Broncos’ season started amid drama with Reynolds, Carrigan and other stars involved in an alcohol-fuelled incident following the club’s fan day.
But the champion halfback blasted suggestions Brisbane players’ egos are out of control.
“I don’t think so,” Reynolds said.
“A lot of things mentioned just aren’t controllable. It’s out of our hands, family issues, injuries and suspensions, that’s part of the game.
“We have been really tested this year with depth. You have to remember we had four players from our grand-final side move on, that’s a large chunk of players.
“That’s not an excuse but we haven’t played to our potential this year and that’s the disappointing thing.”
Asked whether Brisbane players are acting like rock stars, he added: “No, we are working extremely hard.
“We are fighting, it’s a year of learning, it’s still a relatively young squad and when you lose older players, it takes time to build combinations.
“Success doesn’t happen overnight. We didn’t get the results this year, we have been tested, but we still believe we have the squad to get out and do something great.
“It’s a challenge and that’s why I came to Brisbane.”
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