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There is the human headline, Reece Walsh, who has inspired fans to start bringing toilet seats to games after he filmed himself drinking from a Royal Doulton. For what it’s worth, stadium staff want those heading to the game to know there is no need to bring your own seat, and there are more than 1000 perfectly functioning loos.
Then there are Reynolds and Maguire, reunited after all these years. The 35-year-old laid-back larrikin, and the 51-year-old clipboard holder who has also enjoyed success with New Zealand and the NSW Blues.
Michael Maguire and Adam Reynolds won a premiership together with South Sydney in 2014. They recreated the picture below for the Herald on Thursday as they look to repeat history, this time with Brisbane.Credit: Steve Siewert
“It’s extremely special to be doing this with ‘Madge’ [Maguire],” Reynolds says. “He gave me my debut. We have enjoyed so many incredible moments together, and none bigger than the 2014 grand final.
“We both went our separate ways, and now we’re back together. It’s funny how the rugby league gods work sometimes.
“We’ve both had our share of heartbreak and setbacks, so to be in this position, a win would sit right alongside 2014.”
Maguire says he can still remember telling Reynolds he had beaten Ryan Carr in the race to wear Chris Sandow’s old South Sydney No.7 jersey “like it was yesterday”.
Michael Maguire and Adam Reynolds at Redfern Oval in 2014.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s been a fantastic ride with him,” Maguire says. “A win on Sunday would be up there with one of the best memories.
“We’ve gone through a lot together. There was South Sydney and the club’s first title in 43 years to now, in Brisbane, where they love their rugby league.
“Rugby league is a special game, and it brought us together. Reyno is a mate.”
Sutton is a South Sydney legend who played under Maguire and with Reynolds, and loves seeing the pair back together.
Sutton spoke for a lot of Souths fans when he said: “It still kills me seeing Reyno playing at another club. He’s been so good for Brisbane, and he’s into another grand final.
“I’m glad he kicked that goal on the weekend [to beat Penrith in the preliminary final], and it would have buried a few demons for him [from the 2021 grand final loss to the Panthers].
“But after all this time, it’s still weird seeing him playing for the Broncos.
“I know he’s loving it up there, his family are loving it, and he’s the king of the town. I’m really proud of him.
“He’s now there with Madge after all these years. Those two have always been tight. We went through our share of ups and downs at Souths, and that would have helped their bond become even stronger.
Api Koroisau and Adam Reynolds celebrate South Sydney’s 2014 grand final win against the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty
“Reyno knew what he was in for when Madge returned [to Brisbane], and Madge would have leaned on Reyno to inspire the boys and get them to buy into what he wanted. They’ve also got my mate, [Rabbitohs premiership winner] big Benny Te’o doing the defence.
“Reyno never fires up, he’s always very calm. Madge was the opposite. A lot of people have said he’s changed and mellowed, and the two of them always understood each other really well.
“I’m sure a few of the players would have been off it [unhappy with the workloads] at some stages during the pre-season and the season, but what Madge is doing is working.
“They are playing some unbelievable football – that kind of football where you can come back from anywhere.
“I’d love for Adam to lift the trophy again.”
Latrell Mitchell comforts Adam Reynolds after he missed a late shot at goal in South Sydney’s 2021 grand final loss to Penrith.Credit: Getty
Reynolds won his only premiership ring in 2014, missed a sideline conversion that could have levelled the scores in the final minutes of the 2021 grand final against Penrith – it was his last game for his childhood club – then lost to the Panthers again in the big one when playing for the Broncos in 2023.
That loss two years ago has not been forgotten by the Broncos, which can only be a good thing when it comes to being switched on mentally.
There was some scuttlebutt floating around this week that Reynolds would retire if Brisbane beat the Storm. He is signed for next year in what is likely to be his last season before pursuing a career in coaching.
“There’s been an inside joke about me hanging up the boots if we win,” Reynolds says.
“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.”
Reynolds was 21 when he made his debut under Maguire. When Reynolds and Burgess lacked aggression trying to tackle Dave Taylor during the captain’s run before the first round, Maguire exploded, threatening the debutant halfback and rampaging Brit that if they didn’t start hitting harder, “I’ll find a couple of blokes who can for the game”.
Burgess took his frustrations out on Carr a few plays later, with the young playmaker left on the Redfern deck for what felt like an eternity.
Reynolds watched Maguire erupt on more than one occasion in those early years, including the night he jarred his hand and tried to hide the pain after he swung a baseball bat into a metal beam behind a wall at Brookvale Oval.
There were also the wild celebrations in 2012, which featured the come-from-behind win on a Monday night over the Sydney Roosters, and Reynolds running down his predecessor Chris Sandow to deny him a try.
Reynolds has nothing but love for Maguire who was brought to Red Hill to give the club a tougher underbelly.
“I never wanted Kev Walters sacked as head coach, and I still have a strong opinion on that, which I will keep to myself,” Reynolds says.
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“I still feel for Kev, and know he will be back in the NRL and get the success he was meant to get.
“They replaced Kev with Madge, who is an out and out winner. His record shows that, and his ability to get the best out of his players, he deserves to be up there with the best coaches in the game.
“Madge has mellowed, and he went away to learn a lot about himself and different styles of coaching. You have to admire that. He’s had success, but he was open to adapting and trying new things, even though what he had done in the past had worked.
“It’s actually been great being back with him. A win would mean so much to the both of us. Wouldn’t it be nice if we can stroll to the middle of the ground late Sunday and belt out the team song again?”
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