‘We got that wrong’: Broncos sorry after final Reynolds insult
The Broncos have apologised to fans after a calamitous attempt to farewell premiership captain Adam Reynolds at Suncorp Stadium.
Ahead of the Broncos’ final home match for the year, the retiring duo of Reynolds and Corey Jensen were joined on-field by the departing Jesse Arthars (Super League) and Delouise Hoeter in a lap-of-honour around the stadium.
Adam Reynolds was one of four Broncos players farewelled on Thursday night. Getty Images
The lights on the ground were briefly dimmed as the players were introduced by the ground announcer.
But fans and league greats were left fuming by a perceived lack of effort by the Broncos. The farewell did not include any highlights packages on the big screen, or even any music as they made their way around the ground.
To rub salt into the wound, the quartet wasn’t even halfway around when the big-screen cut to a Kia ad, with the ground announcer presenting a member with a new car. The club had dubbed the game “Thank You Members Round”.
After the match, Reynolds and Haas were involved in a separate presentation, but it did not take place until about 10pm – well after most fans had left the ground.
In a letter to members on Friday morning (AEST), the club blamed an earlier power outage for throwing the entire pre-match schedule into chaos.
“The Brisbane Broncos apologise to our members and fans for not showing Adam Reynolds’ full lap of honour on the Suncorp Stadium screens last night,” it read.
“A power outage affecting the stadium screens earlier in the program, for which Suncorp Stadium has apologised and are investigating, occurred without a contingency in place.
“This meant we were running behind schedule and were also unable to show some of the planned tribute content.
“While trying to get the game-day program back on track, a decision was made to proceed with a scheduled Kia giveaway member activation. We got that call wrong.
“Adam’s lap of honour was a significant moment for our club and our fans, and it should have been prioritised.
“We sincerely apologise and thank everyone who came to Suncorp Stadium and stood by the team, our captain and our other departing players.
“We are particularly grateful to everyone who stayed after the final whistle to join us in recognising Adam and our departing players.”
On the ABC, Maroons legend Billy Moore said fans in the stands would barely have known what was going on.
“You didn’t even know there was a send-off, that’s how bad it was,” he said.
The quartet were barely halfway around the ground when the big screen switched to a Kia promotion. X/@zanofc
On Fox Sports’ coverage, Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh said the Broncos should have done more to farewell a premiership player.
“Regardless whether he was playing or not, the Broncos could’ve done something to send him off,” he said.
“They had a bit of a clap pre-game in the middle of the pitch and that was about it. There was no fanfare. It just doesn’t seem there was enough build-up.
“He’s a champion player and to not really have a big build-up … there needed to be something special.”
Michael Maguire and Adam Reynolds after Thursday night’s loss to Melbourne. NRL Imagery
The departures of four other players in the game day squad – Payne Haas (Souths), Gehamat Shibasaki (Perth Bears), Grant Anderson (Warriors) and Jaiyden Hunt (Raiders) – at the end of the year has been confirmed. Jack Gosiewski is expected to be a fifth.
The flat farewell came after a week of criticism aimed at the club for not giving him the opportunity of a farewell game in the dead rubber clash.
Reynolds had been pushing to return from a calf injury for the final two rounds, but was ruled out of the Storm clash on Monday.
Reynolds initially said the decision was made by coach Michael Maguire and the club’s medical staff, before he backflipped and said the final call was his.
Rumours of a factional divide in the dressing room were sparked when Reece Walsh ‘liked’ on Instagram a Fox League post critical of Maguire’s decision.
It has since been deleted.
Fans and former players were adamant the 36-year-old should have been afforded the opportunity of at least a brief cameo off the bench to farewell his adopted home.
Reynolds is expected to remain at Red Hill next year as a halves mentor working under Maguire, but this week’s back-and-forth has left that in some doubt.
A contract was expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Reynolds retires from the NRL having played 323 matches – 231 for the Rabbitohs and 92 for the Broncos – including two grand final victories.
