Bittersweet Bronco: Reynolds cops injury heartbreak but job done for Brisbane skipper

4 hours ago 2

There was a running joke among Broncos players during the week that Adam Reynolds might retire if he could help the club win the grand final.

That idea must have been tempting for Reynolds when he was being carried off the field by two Broncos trainers with a calf injury in the 50th minute last night.

The 35-year-old skipper chased through after his own kick when he stopped running and immediately signalled to the sideline for help. He hobbled over the eastern touchline before laying on his back, no doubt realising his night – and potential premiership dream – was over.

The initial fear was Reynolds had ruptured his hamstring again, which he did the last time he played against Melbourne in round 23.

He took what felt like an eternity to make his way from the field before returning on crutches.

But guess what? He is now a two-time premiership winner, and achieved exactly what he was brought to the Queensland capital four years ago to do.

Adam Reynolds lies injured on the ground.

Forget the fact he was not on the field for the final half hour with his teammates. Reece Walsh was the superstar, and Ezra Mam was brilliant in Reynolds’ absence.

One of the reasons Souths refused to offer Reynolds a long-term deal, and which led him to the Queensland capital in time for the start of the 2022 season, were concerns about his age and body.

But Reynolds played more than 20 games in each of his first two seasons at Red Hill, including leading them to a grand final in 2023, and notched north of 20 games again this year. He has a second premiership ring.

It was a dud call by Souths that continues to haunt them.

Apart from kicking the ball out on the full early in the second half, Reynolds did his best with limited opportunities in the first half.

He somehow picked up a bludger of a pass from Ben Hunt and kicked it over the head of Xavier Coates to get the Broncos out of trouble in the first half. It was his towering bomb that forced Ryan Papenhuyzen to race forward and spill the ball, before Broncos centre Gehmat Shibasaki scored.

Reynolds loves his rugby league, is a competitor, and knows there is the chance for more success.

He could be a wonderful coach once he hangs up the boots. He threw his crutches away and was barking orders when things became frantic late in the second half.

As Reynolds told this masthead before the Storm clash: ″⁣Everyone wants to go out a winner. For me, I want to get the job done on Sunday, then welcome the challenge of potentially backing it up with more title success in 2026. But that is the focus on Monday. I’m only focused on Sunday.″⁣

Well done, skip.