Star insists farewell game not a ‘Hail Mary’ despite latest setback
Adam Reynolds will try everything to say goodbye to the NRL on his own terms, but his latest injury setback is one he knows will be “tough” to bounce back from.
The veteran Broncos halfback will hang up his boots at season’s end, but 9News Queensland revealed on Wednesday he may have already played his last game.
Adam Reynolds of the Broncos is assisted from the field. Getty
Reynolds was knocked out against the Knights in round 22 and missed his side’s loss to the Dolphins, but was eligible for selection this week against the Warriors.
But his name was absent on Michael Maguire’s team list released on Tuesday, with the club later confirming he had suffered a low-grade calf strain at training.
Reynolds had fronted the media shortly after the team sheet was released and denied that he was carrying an injury, saying his absence was a “good opportunity for some young fellas to get a go and build on some combinations for the future.”
He has since confirmed that he is hopeful to get a fairytale farewell with the club.
“I wouldn’t say a Hail Mary (to return one last time), it’s only a small strain,” he told Triple M’s The Rush Hour with Dobbo and Elliott.
“I thought I was fine (earlier this week), but I got out there on the training paddock, felt really good but towards the back end of the day it pulled up a little lame.
“We’ve done a lot of hard work to get to where we’ve been since I arrived, so to get back out there with the boys one last time would be a fairytale.”
The Broncos have three games remaining following Saturday’s clash with the Warriors. They will miss the finals in what has been a dismal defence of their 2025 NRL premiership.
Maguire had stated the club wanted Reynolds to have a farewell game at Suncorp Stadium, which will have to be in round 26 against Melbourne.
Adam Reynolds (left) will retire at season’s end. Getty
Reynolds appears to be at peace with the idea of possibly not playing again.
“If it is not meant to be, it’s not meant to be,” he added.
“Madge has been fantastic through this whole process, I can’t fault him. We’ve had open dialogue with each other about when I could get back out there.
“If I’m not feeling great or in the best headspace, then I certainly won’t put myself out there and put my teammates under that pressure.
“I’ve had a fantastic career; it’s something I’m extremely proud of. I’ll look back in years to come and reflect on the great moments, rather than the sour ones.
“I’m comfortable (knowing I’ve given it my all). I like knowing that I’ve played my part in trying to get the club back to where it needed to be.”
The Broncos are also set to lose Payne Haas (Rabbitohs) and Gehamat Shibasaki (Bears) at season’s end, while Corey Jensen has already medically retired.
Reynolds has played 323 NRL games across the Rabbitohs and Broncos to date.
He won the 2014 premiership with South Sydney and last year’s with Brisbane.
