Adam Reynolds to open contract talks with Brisbane Broncos amid salary cap crunch
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds is set to open contract talks with the club, as coach Michael Maguire vows to find the salary-cap space to keep the inspirational halfback at Red Hill.
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Adam Reynolds is set to open extension talks with the Broncos as Brisbane coach Michael Maguire vowed to find the salary-cap space to keep the champion skipper at Red Hill.
This masthead can reveal Reynolds’ management will look to kick-off negotiations with Brisbane bosses over the next fortnight in the strongest sign yet the 34-year-old wants to be a Bronco in 2026.
There were fears Brisbane’s most important player could be forced out by salary-cap pressures after Broncos board member Darren Lockyer recently revealed the club hadn’t budgeted for Reynolds to play on next season.
But Maguire is adamant the Broncos have the funds to prevent Reynolds being lost to the club, with Brisbane prepared to offload several off-contract top-liners to table a new deal for their skipper.
The Broncos have 13 off-contract players this season, including Reynolds, but ahead of Sunday’s Magic Round grand-final replay against the Panthers, Maguire backed the veteran halfback to soldier on next year.
“I would love to see ‘Reyno’ go on,” Maguire said.
“I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep going on next season and I’m confident we will find a way to keep him.
“Everyone has salary-cap challenges but we have to be diligent to look at the space we’re in (with their roster).
“I get that finances play a part but it’s also what the team means and what we achieve together.
“That’s the job of everyone here, to build the environment and Reyno is a huge part of that.
“Culture is a big part of every NRL club and Reyno is a crucial part of this organisation.”
Reynolds, who plays his 296th NRL game this weekend, inked a 12-month extension last year and that was viewed as his final contract before retiring to take up an assistant coaching role with the Broncos next season.
But Reynolds has advised the Broncos he is keen to play on beyond his 35th birthday and his manager Steve Gillis said he will look to start talks with Brisbane hierarchy in early May.
“Reyno has indicated that his preference is to play on,” Gillis said.
“The Broncos have been great to him, so I will talk to them in the next two or three weeks about the next step.
“I have no doubt Reyno can go on next year if that’s what he wants.
“At the moment, we haven’t spoken money or had conversations with the Broncos.
“I don’t know what their salary cap position is until I sit down with the Broncos.
“There’s no alarm bells ringing about the deal having to be done now, we’ll get to it sooner rather than later.”
When Reynolds parted ways with Souths at the end of 2021, there were concerns at Redfern about the premiership playmaker’s body and whether he had become a year-to-year proposition.
But Reynolds’ career record dispels the myth he is injury prone. Since his debut in 2021, the former NSW Origin halfback has played 20 or more games in a season 10 times in 13 years.
Reynolds is on around $550,000 this season, but he may not have to take a mooted pay cut if the Broncos recalibrate their roster and cull a number of full-timers.
“It blows me away how tough Reyno is,” Maguire said.
“He prepares well and puts a lot of time into his game.
“He has done that ever since I have known him going back to 2012 when he made his debut at Souths.
“It’s the reason why he has had longevity in his game.
“I’ve had a long relationship with Reyno and it’s been really enjoyable to come back and coach him. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve had him as an 18-year-old in those early days at Souths and now is 34 and one of the senior guys at the Broncos.
“Reyno is very durable. I have no concerns about his body holding up (next season).
“He is playing good footy and he has a real smile on his face. It’s nice to see. There have been some tough times for Reyno and times when he’s had some challenges, but he’s able to play some good footy at the moment off the back of his teammates working hard for him.
“Reyno has so much time these days and he sees the game so well.”
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Originally published as Adam Reynolds to open contract talks with Brisbane Broncos amid salary cap crunch
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