South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds blunder exposed again as Broncos captain closes in on deal

Souths fans still can’t believe Adam Reynolds is in Broncos colours and now the skipper hailed as the missing piece in Brisbane’s premiership puzzle is eyeing a new extension.

Adam Reynolds’ Broncos success is highlighting a huge blunder by Souths. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Former Brisbane stars believe South Sydney made a huge blunder letting Adam Reynolds go as the champion halfback closes in on signing a new contract with the Broncos.

Reynolds told this masthead he has ramped-up talks with the Broncos on a one-year deal for 2025 as he looks to steer Brisbane to the grand final in Saturday week’s preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.

It was the very venue at which Reynolds piloted the Rabbitohs to the 2021 grand final, which represented his last game in the red-and-green after Souths bosses refused to enter a bidding war for his services.

The Broncos won his signature with a three-year, $2.4 million deal and should Reynolds deliver Brisbane’s first grand-final appearance since 2015, it would be the ultimate vindication of his move to Red Hill.

There is a view Souths erred badly by refusing to fight for Reynolds. They felt understudy Lachlan Ilias was ready to step up, but premiership trio Michael Ennis, Scott Prince and Corey Parker say the 33-year-old is in career-best form as the skipper looks to snap Brisbane’s 17-year title drought.

Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds is in career-best form.

“Adam was unbelievable the other night (in Brisbane‘s 26-0 finals demolition of the Storm) and he is playing much better now than when he was at South Sydney,” said NRL 360 expert analyst and ex-Broncos rake Ennis, who won a title at Cronulla in 2016.

“As a coach, you are encouraged to coach to a team’s strengths and I feel Reynolds was so restricted at Souths because of the job that he needed to do for the superstars in their sides.

“Whether it was (Greg) Inglis back when he was there, whether it was Cody Walker and Latrell (Mitchell) in Reynolds‘ later years (at Souths).

“Reynolds was there to be the game manager, kick them into corners and simply make his tackles on his edges.

“He has gone to Brisbane and he is thriving in that role of leading these kids around.

“But at the same time, the influence of Allan Langer (assistant) and Kevvie Walters (Broncos coach), who were instinctive halves (as players) … they have given him that free rein to dominate and take his moments.”

Even Souths fans can’t believe the Bunnies let Reynolds go.

When Reynolds was off-contract at Souths in 2021, the club initially discussed an extension on a year-by-year basis amid concerns about his longevity at age 31.

But Brisbane‘s lucrative three-year carrot was too good to refuse.

Reynolds says he is so content at the Broncos he is putting retirement on the backburner, with Brisbane to complete an extension for 2025 after the finals series.

“I’m keen to go on for sure, we’re in talks now,” he said.

“The body is feeling good.

“I am in a really good mental state.

Broncos NRLW coach and former playmaker says Reynolds is the missing piece of the title puzzle for Brisbane.

“I still have one year left to run on my contract but we’re in talks for me to go on.”

Former Broncos and Tigers playmaker Prince says Souths’ loss has been Brisbane’s gain.

“I don’t know what happened and why they let him go. That’s for them to decide,” said Prince, now Brisbane’s NRLW coach.

“Seeing ‘Reyno’ in this Broncos jersey is a massive benefit to us.

“I’m sure he had some points to prove early but right now, we love him and we’re glad he’s a Bronco.

“He was the missing piece of the puzzle here at the Broncos.

“When he signed with the team, I knew right then and there the Broncos had found a good one and it was something we missed.

“It shows in the way the boys are playing. He’s a cool head and directs his team perfectly.”

Brisbane’s most-capped forward, 347-game ironman Parker, says Reynolds has emphatically showed Souths his pint-sized frame could survive for another three to four years.

Broncos great Corey Parker says Reynolds has proved his critics wrong.

“When he was at Souths, he was a hell of a player,” said 2006 premiership winner Parker.

“There was only one question of him — how long would he be able to play for and would his body be able to handle it?

“Well, he has been able to do that.

“He is really enjoying his football. I think he is playing with a bunch of young superstars at Brisbane (including Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo) that he is able to hold the reins on.

“He can dictate to them, he can elevate their games.

“His game has always been an eight out of 10 in terms of what he can produce, but he now has other guys in the team succeeding.

“Reynolds is in sublime form.”

Originally published as South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds blunder exposed again as Broncos captain closes in on deal