NRL 2021: New rules have created a demand for backyard champs … but where are they?

The old-school backyard magicians with creative instincts hardwired by a 1000 games with mates are back in vogue … if only clubs could find more of them.

Blake Taaffe runs the ball for the Rabbitohs against the Dragons at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

South Sydney captain Adam Reynolds is one of the last members of a generation who spent their youth kicking footballs and not flicking phones.

It sounds like a simple life - and it was. Walking through the streets of Redfern and Waterloo targeting telegraph poles and fence posts and playing two on two games with mates.

But Reynolds does not feel he missed out on anything and nor should he because those skills have bankrolled his sporting career and his life beyond it as he prepares to move to Brisbane on a three-year deal after completing Souths finals campaign, which starts against the Panthers in Townsville on Saturday.

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The skills from his backyard days have helped Adam Reynolds succeed. Picture: Getty Images

There is a feeling among rugby league talent scouts that mobile phones and all their attention grabbing trappings and trimmings have threatened the existence of the old-fashioned Allan Langer-style backyard magicians whose creative instincts were hardwired by a thousand games with mates.

It’s especially relevant given the new six again rule has brought cheeky conjurors back into play … if only clubs could find more of them. Any half worth his salt is a man in demand.

Reynolds concedes life has changed “to a certain extent‘’ since he was a boy.

“I have a son (Kobe) who is going through the same thing,‘’ he said.

“He is seven years old and he has the challenge of the iphone and the Nintendo switches. But in saying that it is easy for us to get outside and have a kick around and try to better his skills.

“I was obsessed with kicking the ball around. I loved it. I was probably a bit of a punish around the streets when I hit a couple of parked cars when I missed the telegraph pole.

Reynolds love kicking the ball around growing up. Picture: NRL Images

“We had a little game we liked to play with my brother, my best mate and my cousin growing up. We played two on two in small spaces and came up with pretty creative ways to play the game as kids.

“That played a part in getting me to where I am today. You have to have those skills in the modern game.‘’

Manly‘s Daly Cherry-Evans, who grew up in the wide open spaces at Mackay, is another backyard warrior and Kevin Walters once said of him “he’s the sort of player you know would have grown up trying everything in the backyard like regathering that kick that bounced off a rearview mirror.’’

Scouts are finding the days of parents having to repeatedly call their children in from the backyard for dinner have often been replaced with urges to do more exercise.

Roosters halfback Sam Walker is a timely throwback and Reynolds says Penrith‘s Nathan Cleary is changing the game.

“You see the way Nathan Cleary kicks the ball these days. Younger kids are coming up with new ways to play the game. It is exciting.‘’

LOCKED IN: RABBITOHS’ LATRELL REPLACEMENT REVEALED

Wayne Bennett has backed Blake Taaffe to handle the biggest test of his career with the Rabbitohs rookie clinching Latrell Mitchell’s No.1 jumper for Saturday night’s finals showdown against the Panthers.

News Corp can reveal Bennett has opted against major surgery on his playmaking spine, with Cody Walker to return from a week’s rest at five-eighth as the super coach shows faith in Taaffe to fill the Mitchell void in the qualifying final at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Mitchell’s season-ending suspension has thrown up a selection headache for Bennett, who was considering shifting Walker from five-eighth to fullback and slotting premiership playmaker Benji Marshall into the halves for the playoffs.

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But Bennett is keeping faith in the 22-year-old Taaffe, who played soundly last week in South Sydney’s 20-16 defeat of the Dragons replacing Mitchell in just his fifth top-grade game.

The quick-stepping rookie will be officially named by Bennett in the No.1 jumper on Tuesday and Souths skipper Adam Reynolds said Mitchell’s presence at training would help Taaffe prepare for a Panthers onslaught in his NRL finals debut.

“Latrell will be good for Blake this week,” said Reynolds, who was impressed with Taaffe’s composure in just his third starting appearance last week.

Blake Taaffe will play fullback for the Rabbitohs in their finals clash with Penrith. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

“Latrell’s experience will help him out in key areas at training and get him prepped for the big moments.

“Latrell is all right, he is doing fine. He is still a big part of what we are doing this year and he will be helping us prepare to get ready for the finals.

“He is still training and doing things with us, whether we need him to mimic an opposition player, Latrell is a good person to compete against at training because he is very good at what he does.

“He will play a great role for the rest of the season.”

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There was a push for Walker to return to the backfield, which he has done before, but Bennett is reluctant to destabilise his lethal scrumbase strikeforce with Reynolds, who will square off against Penrith halfback maestro Nathan Cleary.

Souths will carry psychological scar tissue into their finals clash with Penrith in Townsville. They were flogged 56-12 by the Panthers in round 11 and surrendered an early lead to lose 25-12 three weeks ago, but Reynolds is adamant Souths can dismantle Penrith without Mitchell.

“We are trying to come up with ways to break down the big teams and Penrith’s defensive structures are a bit different to what we’ve played throughout the season,” he said.

South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Adam Reynolds is ready for the NRL finals. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

“It’s exciting because we have to come up with a new way to break them down.

“We haven’t had too much success this year against Penrith but we continually question ourselves at training and we will come up with a thought process on how we can break them down.”

Reynolds last tasted premiership glory in 2014 and the Broncos-bound halfback is desperate to scratch his seven-year title itch.

“I’m looking forward to playing in another finals campaign,” he said.

“It’s important that we lean on Wayne (Bennett) for his experience.

“He has been coaching for a long time and he knows how to get teams up at this time of year.

“He gives us a sense of belief that we can do it.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: New rules have created a demand for backyard champs … but where are they?