Former Rabbitohs captain Mario Fenech says he’s “disappointed” that current skipper Adam Reynolds won’t play another game in cardinal and myrtle after Sunday’s grand final.
But Fenech, who played 182 games with South Sydney between 1981 and 1990, understands the harsh reality of professional rugby league as well as anyone.
In the club legend’s own words, there’s “no romance” in top-level rugby league.
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Fenech was the heart and soul of the Rabbitohs during his decade-long career at the foundation club, with the firebrand hooker establishing himself as one of the toughest competitors in rugby league history.
But a financial crisis that rocked the Rabbitohs forced him to walk out on South Sydney and join North Sydney, arriving at the Bears ahead of the 1991 season.
Fenech had grown up in South Sydney territory, played junior footy with Mascot and, until his move to the Bears, had only ever played in the NSWRL with the Rabbitohs.
Broncos-bound Reynolds has just as much red and green streaming through his veins as Fenech, having grown up just blocks away from Redfern Oval. He played with several clubs in South Sydney’s junior league and has only ever played in the NRL with the Rabbitohs.
A 39-year-old Fenech and a 10-year-old Reynolds were also among the 80,000 Rabbitohs faithful who took to Sydney’s streets in November 2000 to protest against the club being kicked out of the NRL.
“It’s sad to see Reynolds go, to be honest,” Fenech told Wide World of Sports.
“But I had to leave Souths, too, and go to North Sydney. That’s the way it goes. They just couldn’t afford to keep me, and obviously with Reynolds – it hasn’t worked out for him. It’s just the way it goes.
“I’m disappointed (that Reynolds is leaving), but the same thing happened to me. When I went to North Sydney, Souths couldn’t afford to keep me … and then Norths couldn’t afford to keep me and I went up to the South Queensland Crushers.
“(There’s) no romance (left in the game).”
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Reynolds is shooting for his second title as a Rabbitoh, having tasted glory when the club broke a 43-year premiership drought in 2014.
Reynolds, winger Alex Johnston and front-rower Tom Burgess are the only 2014 premiership-winning Rabbitohs set to pull on a South Sydney jumper in Sunday’s decider.
Reynolds was installed as South Sydney’s captain following the 2019 retirements of Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and John Sutton, and he’s since led the Rabbitohs to a 2020 preliminary final and this year’s grand final.
The veteran halfback enjoyed one of the most treasured moments of his career when he clinched the Rabbitohs’ all-time points record in August, surpassing the 1841 points scored by South Sydney royalty Eric Simms in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Fenech only has praise for Reynolds.
“He’s a very good kicker of the ball, his goal-kicking is incredible, he’s a great communicator in terms of you know exactly what he wants,” Fenech said.
“What you’ve got to understand about Reynolds is his communication skills are incredibly good. You would know exactly what he wants of you.
“He will be missed.”
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