Adam Reynolds confirms he may be forced out of Brisbane Broncos due to salary cap restraints

Broncos star Adam Reynolds has revealed he could be forced to play for another club in 2026 as the halfback awaits scan results for his injured hamstring.

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has admitted he may be forced to play for a rival club next year as Brisbane’s salary cap squeeze intensifies.

Reynolds declared he’s “got a lot to give” as Brisbane’s off-contract halfback was urged to shelve retirement plans and play on in 2026.

“The plan is to play on,’’ Reynolds told Triple M.

Asked whether he would consider leaving the Broncos for an NRL or English club if a suitable deal could not be reached, Reynolds said: “I will keep all options open at the moment. You never know what is around the corner. Ideally I would love to stay at the Broncos but it is pretty tight there at the moment.

“If things work out great. If not you would have to look and explore and see what else was out there.’’

Adam Reynolds has been sublime in 2025 so far. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Broncos salary cap is rocking like a lid on a bubbling saucepan with Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas and Selwyn Cobbo coming off contract and Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Ezra Mam earning $3 million between them.

Reynolds is racing the clock to face the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night after suffering a hamstring injury in Brisbane’s 46-24 thumping of the Tigers. Scans on Monday will determine his future.

Reynolds walked off the field in the 46th minute following a sublime chip-and-chase try that showed the 292-game NRL veteran still had moments of magic up his sleeve.

Reynolds, 34, was expected to retire at season’s end on the back of a challenging 2024 campaign in which he battled numerous injuries amid Brisbane’s dramatic crash from 2023 grand finalists to 12th.

Reynolds has even written an autobiography – planned to be released later this year – a clear indication he was eyeing retirement.

But a rejuvenated Reynolds has bounced back from pre-season neck surgery and turned back the clock in Brisbane’s 4-1 start to the season that has rocketed the Broncos into premiership contention.

Having forecast his retirement, the Broncos face a delicate salary cap juggling to retain Reynolds next year given the cash they’ve splashed on the likes of Payne Haas, Reece Walsh and Pat Carrigan, along with off-season recruit Ben Hunt.

They are also in contract extension talks with Origin duo Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs.

But a reborn Reynolds said he was far from a spent force in the NRL and wasn’t ready to make a definitive call on his future.

“I’ll look after this year first, I’ve still got a job to do here,” he said.

“That will sort itself out in the future.

Adam Reynolds injured his hamstring against the Tigers. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I’m feeling younger. I’m enjoying myself and still feel like I’ve got a lot to give.

“I’ve still got a big job to do this year so I’m not even worried about next year at the moment.

“I’m worried about getting my body right for next week and doing my part for the team and trying to put us in a good position.”

While his hamstring problem isn’t thought to be serious, Reynolds faces an uphill task to get on the field for the Roosters game on a six-day turnaround.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire is also in the fortunate position of being in the NRL’s top four and having a ready-made halfback replacement in Hunt.

Hunt has played the majority of his 339 NRL games in the No.7 and is expected to slot into his favoured role if Reynolds is unavailable.

The most experienced halves duo in the game’s history, Reynolds and Hunt have struck up a slick combination in the opening month of the season.

And the Queensland Origin veteran urged Reynolds to not walk away from the game while he had more to give.

“He doesn’t look done to me,” Hunt said.

“I know he came off with a hammy, but he’ll look after himself and will be back pretty quickly.

“I haven’t been around him in club land previous to this year, but he’s definitely a professional.

“He ticks all the boxes. You wouldn’t play that many games if you weren’t.

“He knows what it’s like to grind out week-to-week footy and get his body right.”

Reynolds felt his hamstring tighten during the first half of the Tigers game on Saturday night before it flared up when he hit the afterburners during his individual try.

He decided to leave the field before it progressed to a more serious injury.

“It’s a bit of old age setting in,” he said.

“I feel pretty good. I’m pretty positive as a person.

“I got through without doing anything serious.”

If he is sidelined, Maguire could slot Billy Walters into the halves alongside Hunt and recall Tyson Smoothy or Blake Mozer as Brisbane’s bench hooker.

Other potential halves options are Josh Rogers and Jock Madden.

Originally published as Adam Reynolds confirms he may be forced out of Brisbane Broncos due to salary cap restraints