South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds to sit out final round before NRL finals

Adam Reynolds wants to be on the safe side after hurting his knee, so he’ll sit out Saturday’s clash against St George Illawarra.

Adam Reynolds will rest up his injured knee with the finals just around the corner. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds won’t play in the final round against St George Illawarra as he looks to rest following a knee injury scare.

Reynolds confirmed he pulled up “OK”, but he plans to sit out Saturday’s Dragons’ clash to rest after suffering a hyper-extended knee against the Roosters.

The veteran halfback got his foot caught in the Suncorp Stadium turf in the first half and hyper-extended his knee.

Reynolds returned in the second half, but he doesn’t want to risk further damage by playing this weekend on the eve of the finals.

“I’m not sure what he (Wayne) is doing with the team, but I’m pretty much resting I think,” Reynolds said when asked if he would take on the Dragons.

Adam Reynolds won’t play against St George Illawarra. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I’ll be up there coaching alongside him, so I might give him a tap on the shoulder.

“My foot slipped in the ground and then stopped but my body kept going.

“It was probably more of a scare than anything else. It was a little tender today, but I got through training, so it is feeling all OK.”

Souths’ premiership aspirations have copped a hit following Latrell Mitchell’s season-ending suspension, but Reynolds remains confident in his team’s ability to perform strongly in the finals.

He believes 22-year-old rising Rabbitoh Blake Taaffe is more than capable of filling in at fullback for the suspended Mitchell.

“We are confident with anyone who plays in any position in our team,” he said about Taaffe, who has played four NRL games to date.

“Everyone has got a job to do and if they do it to the best of their ability, we believe we can match it with anyone.

“It is a next man up mentality for us, and it is exciting times for Blake. We’ve seen what he has been doing in the background.

“He is a great member to have in the squad and he will be valuable for us.”

Asked if Mitchell has been giving Taaffe advice this week in the lead-up to Saturday’s clash against the Dragons, Reynolds remained tight-lipped.

“Oh, that is all a secret, so I’ll keep that one with us,” he said.

Originally published as South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds to sit out final round before NRL finals