Adam Reynolds ready to join Broncos, hopefully with another premiership
Adam Reynolds hopes to go out with a bang. (Getty: Ian Hitchcock)
South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds says he has no regrets about leaving the Rabbitohs next season, despite the club's success in the 2021 season.
Key points:
- Adam Reynold won his first and only premiership in 2014 when the Rabbitohs annihilated the Bulldogs 30-6
- The soon-to-be Bronco says it's been a "privilege" to captain South Sydney for the past two seasons
- Reynolds heads into the Rabbitohs grand final against the Panthers with a niggling groin injury but insists he'll play through the pain
The 31-year-old was offered a one-year contract with Souths but signed on with the 14th-placed Brisbane Broncos until 2025 to secure a longer contract.
"I've signed a contract so I am pretty much done and dusted," Reynolds told ABC.
"I am happy with the decision that's been made and obviously I'm ready to move on."
Having grown up in Redfern and attended school at Matraville Sports High, Reynolds said it had been an honour to represent the Rabbitohs and to play for the locals who passionately backed the club year after year.
"We've got a high Indigenous population; they love their footy they love their team," Reynolds said.
"For us growing up it was all about supporting our team — they live for their footy — it's all they've got, so if we can make their life a little easier and make them proud on the field it means so much to us.
"You always dream of your club winning a grand final, it's an honour and a privilege to be on the other side now and captain this club, I know what it means to everyone back home."
A premiership player in 2014, Reynolds was joining Tom Burgess and Alex Johnston from that drought-breaking team set to line up this Sunday against the Panthers, and said he wanted to create history with the new breed of Rabbitohs.
Adam Reynolds celebrating after scoring a try in Souths 2014 grand final victory over the Bulldogs. (Getty: Mark Nolan)
"I wouldn't want to do it with any other boys; it's been a special year and I've had a great time doing it," he said.
"2014 was a great time for fans, members, Redfern, Waterloo, such a proud footy area, it's been the heart of footy for a long time with a lot of passionate supporters.
"It was a long time between drinks, 43 years since winning a grand final, so to be part of that team was really special."
While Reynolds's kicking game has been a key part of his weaponry in his 10 years at the highest level of rugby league, the captain said he's still plagued by pain from a recent groin injury and he may have to pass kicking duties on to a teammate.
"I might have to play through some pain but grand finals are like that – I'll play through it," he said.
"I still have to get through some kicking, but have got some kilometres in the legs, but still have to get to 100 per cent, but I'm pretty confident I'll be kicking."
As veteran coach Wayne Bennett entered his 10th grand final, Reynolds said the 71-year-old was a calming voice in a chaotic finals series.
"Wayne's just been Wayne. He's calm, cool this time of year, not flustered. He's been there and done it before," Reynolds said.
Wayne Bennett is also departing Souths after the grand final, with a possible move back to Queensland on the cards. (Getty: Mark Metcalfe)
"He's kept the group calm and everyone's just having fun. These weeks don't come round too often so just enjoy."
Souths should take some comfort from the win they had over the Panthers in week one of the finals, but Reynolds said it was a whole new ball game heading into the decider.
"I don't think that game means anything anymore, obviously they beat us throughout the year and we beat them then, but grand final is a whole different beast," he said.
"They're a great side and have been the standout team the last two years, they're more experienced now, they know what it takes, we've got to turn up and be our best or there's no point us being there."
Kick-off for the 2021 NRL grand final is 6:30pm on Sunday, October 3, at Brisbane's Lang Park.