Adam Reynolds' backflip on Souths after brutal initial reaction to former NRL club's struggles
Reynolds left his beloved South Sydney for the Broncos after nine seasons with the Bunnies.
Adam Reynolds says he has changed his mind after admitting that he enjoyed seeing former club South Sydney struggle after leaving the club. Reynolds won an NRL premiership with Souths in 2014 and played nine seasons for his beloved Bunnies before jumping ship to join the Broncos after the 2021 season.
The Rabbitohs were only willing to offer the veteran halfback a one-year extension so he joined Brisbane on a three-year deal. Reynolds was named captain at Brisbane has been a revelation for the Broncos since making the move, leading the club to last year's grand final before signing a one-year extension to remain in Brisbane next season.
South Sydney's decision to allow Reynolds to leave has been consistently questioned after seeing the influence he's had on Kevin Walters' Broncos side. And the Rabbitohs have struggled in the halves since the veteran No.7 left, with young playmaker Lachlan Ilias failing to live up to the hype as Reynolds' heir apparent, and Souths signing English half Lewis Dodd from next year.
The Rabbitohs' season deteriorated in 2023 when they crashed out of finals contention having led the competition after 12 rounds. And things went from bad to worse in the first few months of the current season, when they won just one game in their first seven before sacking former coach Jason Demetriou.
Speaking on an episode of the 'Ebbs and Flows' podcast hosted by former NRL star Isaac John, veteran half Reynolds admitted he initially enjoyed seeing his former club struggle after he left. “Early on, I was happy, not gonna lie," Reynolds said about South Sydney's woes. But the 34-year-old said his position quickly changed when he thought about the friendships he made at South Sydney and the struggles he has experienced across his own career.
“I’ve got a lot of mates in that side, and obviously I’ve struggled in seasons as well, and you know the pain that it brings and you don’t want to see your mates go through that,” he said. "I still talk to a lot of them regularly and when they were struggling this year I had a soft spot for them and wanted to see them do well. They’re coming good, but I feel for a lot of them.”
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Souths have turned their season around under interim coach Ben Hornby and have shot back into finals contention after winning seven of their last eight games to jump from last to 12th on the ladder, equal on points with Reynolds' 11th-placed Broncos. And the Bunnies' future looks bright after signing master coach Wayne Bennett on a three-year deal from 2025.
Adam Reynolds inspires Broncos on return from injury
Reynolds and the Broncos have experienced their own struggles this season, with the veteran halfback's return last week helping Brisbane snap a six-game losing streak to revive their dwindling finals hopes. Reynolds was sidelined for 12 weeks with a ruptured bicep but helped unlock Reece Walsh and the Broncos' attack in his return as they thumped Newcastle 30-14.
"Reyno is a class player, and there is a reason why he is the captain of our club," Walsh said after the win over the Knights. "It was good to have him back... freeing up a bit of space for me and Ez (Ezra Mam), and playing what we see. His kicking game helps a lot. We were probably still a bit rusty there with some things and some calls. But it has been a long 12 weeks without Reyno, so it was good to have him back."
Reynolds' return came at a vital time for the Broncos, who probably need six more wins from their last seven games to make the finals. And Brisbane's coach says it's no coincidence his side - and Walsh in particular - are a more dangerous proposition with their inspirational skipper back.
"Sometimes that's as simple as it is. They are two of our best players, and they are back playing together, they are good together," Walters said. "Adam and Reece have got a really unique combination that only those two (get). They just know what each other is doing. Adam with his style of play and the way he plays, really suits Reece and his style of play. Together they are very dynamic."
