Adam Reynolds has signed a one-year contract extension with Brisbane, much to the delight of inaugural Broncos captain Wally Lewis, who says the veteran half is a “great communicator” in the mold of club legend Allan Langer.
The 33-and-a-half-year-old captain, who was out of contract at the end of this season after spending two years at the club, is now on deck until the end of 2025 and Lewis said that kept Brisbane’s premiership window well and truly open. .
“He’s a key player, Reynolds,” Lewis said.
“It was vital that they keep him because his leadership inspires the younger kids on the team.
“By staying he has also put a carrot in front of himself to improve and overcome last year’s grand final defeat (to Penrith).”
Adam Reynolds has signed a new contract with the Brisbane Broncos
Reynolds was close to winning the 2023 presidency but lost in the grand final
The news is a welcome boost for Brisbane, which was mired in a feud involving Reynolds and fellow Broncos star Patrick Carrigan earlier this month.
Footage of the two players involved in an aggressive altercation on a night out in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley went viral, with the pair apologizing for their role in the fight.
Footage posted on social media shows Reynolds involved in a push while a female bystander screams.
The woman can be heard shouting: “Let him go…Adam…Pat…stop.”
Another person can be heard repeatedly saying: ‘Reyno.’
It is understood a group of Brisbane players went to MAYA Mexican restaurant and bar in the bustling entertainment district.
Witnesses told News Corp that Carrigan was very drunk, so Reynolds tried to help him out and suggested they take a taxi home.
But things got heated and there was a disagreement that spilled outside.
The pair moved on from the incident and Lewis, one of the game’s greatest leaders, said it highlighted an integral quality of the Broncos captain and 2014 title winner with South Sydney.
“I’ve watched him closely in practice and in games, where I watch and listen to guys communicating. You can hear Reynolds all the time,” Lewis said.
“You can be sitting on the edge of the bench during a game and hear it. In training he communicates constantly and that is one of the strongest points of a player’s game.
Reynolds was involved in a heated fight with teammate Patrick Carrigan this month.
‘It is priceless and inspires others to act. He probably inspires the guy talking too.’
It’s a quality Lewis admired in his former training partner Langer.
I loved playing with Alf and when he got the job of captain of the Broncos he was a fantastic conversationalist. He used to participate in a lot of discussions in the field. That was invaluable to the team’s success,” Lewis said.
‘Reynolds is similar in that sense. He’s in the latter part of his career and that area of his game just goes up and up.
“Reynolds has Alf there (as assistant coach) and I’m sure he’s an asset if he needs anything. In his own game he just shows a lot of confidence.”
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters said Reynolds had made “a huge impact in a short time here at the Broncos”.
“We all know what Reyno brings to our club: he’s our leader and our general, and he’s done that,” Walters said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Reyno run to lead our team and help bring out the best in our emerging talent, as well as continue to do those things that only he can do with the ball in his hand.”
But the couple has put the incident behind them and is focused on the 2024 season.
Langer benefited from Lewis’s guidance in his formative years in Brisbane and Queensland. Gun No.6 Ezra Mam, who recently renewed his long-term contract, will do the same.
“Ezra will only learn more and more playing outside of an experienced campaigner like Reynolds,” Lewis said.
Lewis said the Broncos had the team to challenge for a title and would be able to overcome the disappointment of last year’s decider.
“They have a group of good, determined young people who are certainly putting in wonderful performances week in and week out with confidence,” he said.
‘They have competition for positions. They may have surprised everyone with how far they came last year. “Now they will be even more determined knowing that they can compete in important games.”