Brisbane Broncos special report: Adam Reynolds’ long-term halfback successor key to revival

He holds the keys to the stalled Ferrari for now, but the elephant in the room for Brisbane next season is halfback Adam Reynolds. We look at the Next Gen stars who can revive the Broncos.

The elephant in the room for Brisbane next season is halfback Adam Reynolds.

His premiership pedigree is undisputed but the skipper turns 35 next year and with each passing season there are fears his pint-sized, battle-weary frame is gradually breaking down.

Reynolds has been Brisbane’s best No.7 since Allan Langer but he managed just 13 games this season due to a torn biceps — the lowest output of his decorated 12-year NRL career.

Can he withstand the rigours of another brutal campaign? And is his understudy, Jock Madden, truly up to succeeding him? If Reynolds can’t stay on the park in 2025, the Broncos will struggle to challenge for the title and coach Kevin Walters will find himself in the firing line.

BRONCOS’ HURT LOCKER

Injuries didn’t help the Broncos this season. Brisbane’s Big Three — Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Payne Haas — missed a combined 31 games this year. They played just 58 per cent of matches, compared to 85 per cent in their 2023 grand-final surge.

Reynolds, Walsh and five-eighth Ezra Mam started in six games together this season. Of those six, Reynolds and Mam finished the 80 minutes as a halves pairing just three times.

The 2025 campaign shapes as Reynolds’ swan song year in the NRL. He is cryptic about retirement, but accepts he will get no favours from Broncos bosses next season.

“Firstly I have to be playing good footy, I have to be doing my job,” Reynolds said.

“If I am not doing my job, then I’m not doing the team any favours … that is when a decision will be made (on whether to retire).

“We can draw on the hurt we are feeling. It will be a long pre-season and a lot of hard work has to be done to achieve success.”

THE SEVEN CONUNDRUM

So if not Reynolds, then who?

Back-up half Jock Madden is only 24 and has two years remaining on his Broncos deal. But he has just 32 NRL appearances over four seasons, with 10 of those coming in 2024.

Josh Rogers is 28 and has been used sparingly.

There is talk the Broncos should try and lure Sam Walker back to Queensland from the Sydney Roosters.

The 22-year-old is off contract at the end of next season, but suffered a ruptured ACL in Round 26 and faces a nine-month lay-off.

Given the dearth of quality halves on the free agency market, and the Roosters losing veteran five-eighth Luke Keary to Catalans after this season, the Broncos can’t afford to get into a bidding war with a team with deep pockets.

Focus will turn to Coby Black and whether he is the Broncos’ long-term halfback. Picture: Adam Head

Then there is Coby Black, the Broncos’ 18-year-old pathways prodigy who is steadily gaining a reputation for his long kicking game and has been earmarked for a big future.

He will be 20 when Reynolds’ current contract expires and potentially ready to step into the No.7 jersey.

Should Reynolds enjoy an injury-free season and extend his career into 2026, it would give Black more time to be eased into the rigours of NRL, without the pressure of having to run the football team.

If the situation allows them to be patient, the Broncos could get a gem in the Helensvale Hornets junior, and someone who wouldn’t break the bank and put pressure on a salary cap about to be stretched by the contract extension of Walsh and the big-money deals of Haas, Mam, Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo.

YOUNG TALENT TIME

With no new signings for 2025, Brisbane’s younger core have to step up to the plate. This season, Brisbane’s full-time squad had an average age of 25.8 years, suggesting the Broncos are in their prime as a roster to achieve their annual benchmark of a top-four finish.

Walsh, Mam, Xavier Willison, Blake Mozer, Deine Mariner, Selwyn Cobbo, Brendan Piakura and 205cm monster prop Ben Te Kura – the tallest player in NRL history – are aged 22 or younger.

“I believe in the club and the young guys we’ve got,” Reynolds said.

“It’s easy to sit there as an outsider and nitpick. We are trying hard. Things haven’t worked out for us.

“We still had dramas last year but when you are winning games no-one talks about it.

“Still, it’s not good enough. We love and respect the fans, so we’ll have a good look at ourselves and come back with a better attitude next year.”