Adam Reynolds was always coming back.
Even before the desperately unlucky Billy Walters suffered an ACL injury against the Raiders, the Broncos captain was ramping up his preparation to step back into the number seven jersey, having finally put a troublesome hamstring strain behind him.
While Reynolds is almost certain to return for Brisbane’s home preliminary final on Sunday week, the hot form his side has shown in his absence—and particularly that of fullback Reece Walsh—has created plenty of discussion about what the 35-year-old’s role should actually be, and how it might differ from the way he was playing earlier in the season.
One person with a strong opinion is four-time NRL premiership winning halfback, Cooper Cronk.
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Discussing the likely return of Reynolds, the Fox League analyst was clear that Reynolds needs to take a back seat to his dynamic fullback, Reece Walsh.
“Adam Reynolds definitely comes back in to seven,” Cronk declared on Matty and Cronk.
“But if I’m Adam Reynolds and I’m sitting on the sideline and I’ve just seen my team do what they’ve done without me— it’s up to him to come in and keep that flow going.”
‘Make Reece Walsh the main man’
Doing it will require a shift in mindset for the veteran playmaker, but it’s one Cronk warned is critical if the Broncos genuinely hope to challenge for the NRL premiership on October 5.
“It’s not about Adam coming up with the big plays, it’s about game management and getting the ball in a position two passes wider so Reece Walsh gets it on that edge defence with speed and space,” Cronk said.
“It’s a selfless attitude, a team-first mentality from Adam Reynolds that’s needed for them to win the comp.”
“He needs to come in and make Reece Walsh the main man.”