Adam Reynolds

Andrew Johns: Reynolds is a better player now than he was at South Sydney

The move to the Broncos has really freshened him up. It can happen with players. He looks like he’s got a little bit of extra responsibility in Brisbane, a few new surroundings and new players ... it’s all adding up to him elevating his game beyond 2021, when the Rabbitohs made the grand final.

I’ve been watching him closely and he is playing on the ball a lot more than he did at Souths, where he had to share playmaking duties with Cody Walker. He’s almost on the ball nearly every play. That’s rare for teams these days because usually the lock does a lot of the first receiving.

Adam Reynolds announced as new Broncos captain

The goal-kicking halfback with 231 NRL appearances to his name becomes the 13th player including inaugural NRLW skipper Ali Brigginshaw to be named permanent Captain as the Club enters its 35th season in the competition.

The 31-year-old joins Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Allan Langer, Kevin Walters, Gorden Tallis, Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Justin Hodges, Darius Boyd, Brigginshaw and Alex Glenn as those to have been named fulltime Broncos Captains.

Walters confident that star recruit ‘ticks all the boxes’ to be next Broncos captain

Reynolds is settling into life in Brisbane after signing a three-year contract. We already know he’ll be the chief playmaker — but more responsibility could be coming his way too as Walters begins his hunt for a new skipper.

“He’s already a Bronco ... he’s loving life in Brisbane,” Walters said on Friday.

“What we need as our captain is someone that knows the game really well, plays really well and is a good person more than anything else.

“Adam ticks all those boxes so he’ll be a strong candidate.”

 

'I'll be ready': Reynolds on injury and Broncos challenge

The goalkicking halfback with 231 NRL appearances to his name donned the Broncos jersey for the first time as he tried on the 2022 ASICS home playing strip at Suncorp Stadium, complete with brand new Kia Australia logo. 

“Coming up here to Brisbane, it’s a challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” Reynolds told broncos.com.au.

“I’ve heard a lot about the pressures and the outside influences but as long as your focus is within the team then that’s all that really matters."

Forget about next Alfie: Reynolds will fix Broncos' biggest problem

Similarly at Parramatta, where the search for "the next Peter Sterling" went unfulfilled for three decades until Mitch Moses's coming of age in the past three seasons.

Both members of the Hall of Fame, both four-time premiership winners, Alfie and Sterlo boast CVs that may never be matched, but that hasn't spared their successors from the inevitable comparisons and pining for the good old days.

Seismic Reynolds deal

     

Reynolds's three-year, $2 million-plus Broncos deal was confirmed on Thursday after the 2014 premiership winner had knocked back a similar three-year offer from Cronulla.

The 30-year-old halfback will join Brisbane next season until the end of 2024, after being pursued hard by the rebuilding Broncos, who are also in the final throes of luring Lee north after reviving his career at Melbourne.

Rabbitohs keen to arrest slow starts

The Rabbitohs conceded three tries in the opening 12 minutes against the Sea Eagles but managed to turn it around to secure a morale-boosting win on the road. 

Reynolds to miss opening month

The South Sydney playmaker withdrew from the Auckland Nines earlier in February due to hamstring tightness as a precautionary measure, and also didn't play in the Rugby League All Stars game despite being initially named in the World All Stars side.

Reynolds' measure of success

Much like Souths' season, Reynolds views his own successes as a roller-coaster ride filled with as much pain as there was jubilation.

The 26-year-old has dealt with separate jaw, neck and shoulder issues this season but offset that by making his State of Origin debut for New South Wales.

Reynolds facing a month out

Reynolds came from the field 16 minutes from full-time nursing his right arm with Blues coach Laurie Daley expecting that his No.7 would be unavailable to play in Game Three of the 2016 Holden State of Origin Series on July 13 back in Sydney.

Reynolds will have scans on his shoulder when he returns to Sydney on Thursday but if the Blues' early diagnosis proves to be accurate the earliest he would be able to return would be in Round 19 against the Broncos by which time the Rabbitohs' semi-final hopes could already have evaporated.