Adam Reynolds always envisioned himself as a one club player. He was South Sydney through and through, accumulating 231 appearances in the cardinal and myrtle jersey across over a decade-long period of service at the club.
Yet the Bunnies made the decision to usher the veteran out the backdoor two years ago in order to promote his understudy Lachlan Ilias with one eye fixed firmly on the future.
Adam Reynolds contract: How halfback defied the doubters to forge new path at Brisbane Broncos
This move forced Reynolds to pack his bags and head up to Red Hill where he was tasked with helping to turn around an ailing Broncos side which was chock full of young talent but had very little direction.
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A one-year deal put to Reynolds by his junior club was viewed as an insult, as he instead opted to uproot and prove himself all over again in Queensland.
The then 31-year-old’s questionable injury record was spoken about during negotiations as a major source of concern but ever since debuting in 2012, Reynolds has played in 20 or more matches in every season except two.
That tricky spell came way back in 2015-2016, before he bounced back and proved his durability beyond any shadow of a doubt.
"All the talk about Adam’s body at Souths was rumour and innuendo," Reynolds’ manager, Steve Gillis, told The Courier Mail.
"Some people tried to discredit him, but Adam knows what he is capable of, and he has shown that at the Broncos."
The 2014 premiership winner came within a whisker of taming the Panthers and claiming his second premiership for the club in his final season with the Bunnies in 2021.
He was then beaten by the Penrith juggernaut once again in 2023 in the most heartbreaking of circumstances as his opposite number put on a late masterclass.
However, despite not tasting premiership success with the Broncos, Reynolds will have at least two more years at it after he signed a contract extension, on reduced terms, which will take him through until 2025.
"We all know what Reyno brings to our club - he is our leader and our general and he has made a huge impact in a short time here at the Broncos," Kevin Walters said.
"He has made a home here in Brisbane with his family, and our supporters have really adopted him as one of their own - Reyno is very much one of us now here in the Sunshine State."
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Walters has often cited how he hopes to keep the playmaker at the club beyond his retirement, so valuable is his experience and ability to orchestrate a footy team out on the field.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Reyno running out to lead our team and helping bring out the best in our emerging talent, as well as continuing to do those things that only he can do with the ball in hand," Walters said.
This point is also significant to contemplate how different Souths could have been if he had been offered the long-term security that he requested, with Ilias possibly given the chance to develop in his shadow for a few more seasons.
"This deal won’t all be about money, it will be about playing on and helping the club and building for a better future," Gillis stated before the deal was announced.
The little general, who will turn 34 midway through this campaign, doesn’t seem on track for a Redfern homecoming either.
In fact, it appears the divide between the club legend and Souths has continued to grow.
Reynolds has quickly transitioned into the face of a Broncos rebuild which has seen them rise from wooden spooners in 2020 to being on the precipice of establishing themselves as the powerhouse they used to be.
The ride hasn’t always been an easy one with a collapse two years ago, culminating in the Broncos failing to qualify for the finals after previously leading the competition.
But the quality and influence of Reynolds was never questioned amidst the slump and only served to propel the No.7 and his teammates onto bigger and better things.
"He wants to win a premiership before he finishes and hopefully transition at the club after he has finished playing," Gillis added.
With Reynolds working in tandem with the likes of Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam, it would be foolish to back against Reynolds cementing himself as a club legend at two separate clubs before he calls time on his career.
