Adam Reynolds has waved away any suggestions he may walk away from rugby league after winning the premiership with the Broncos, even after he had to be carried from the field and finished the decider injured.
The veteran number seven has battled through injuries at a growing rate over the last few seasons, with his difficulties to stay fit one of the biggest reasons why the South Sydney Rabbitohs showed him the door when he came knocking for a long extension (though this Sporting Base writer can only imagine they’d be regretting that quite a bit now).
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Reynolds’ calf injury early in the second half saw many begin to whisper that he may retire on top – but the 35-year-old was quick to nip that talk in the bud when he (gingerly) walked on-stage after his team’s 26–22 comeback victory.
“I can’t wait to run it back next year,” Reynolds said, adding he was looking forward to another season at Brisbane.
Those intentions can’t be any clearer, and confirms the 35-year-old will be playing on.
And, there might even be a farewell tour that stretches on into 2027 if what this Base writer has heard is true: The Broncos are preparing a relatively cheap extension for the veteran that would add one more year to his deal and include coaching roles with the club beyond the last season, too. Should that offer ever become official, Reynolds will sign in a heartbeat.
“They will still question me, but it doesn’t faze me,” he declared. “I believe in my own abilities. I believe in my teammates. That’s all that really matters… You get knockers and critics at every opportunity, [wanting] to knock you down.”
And to very clearly cap it all: “You use that as a bit of motivation to keep going, and I will keep going.”
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Reynolds staying a little longer does, of course, raise questions about the Red Hill succession plan, though The Sporting Base understands it’s all relatively set in stone right now – and should come down to either 19-year-old Cody Black or Cowboys young gun Tom Duffy taking up the seven jumper once Reynolds does eventually pack it in.
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Black has long been touted as the heir to Brisbane’s halfback jersey and has been working his way through the junior ranks for some years now. With him getting a chance to learn from Reynolds and Ben Hunt, he should come well armed with experience by the time he takes the reins.
Or, Brisbane may decide to plug in Duffy instead. The Cowboy-turned-Bronco is another starlet that may have been keeping tabs on, and while his six games earlier this year weren’t outstanding, he looked like he could progress.
Duffy may be leaned on early to ease Black in, should Reynolds suffer any more injuries.
