Adam Reynolds is yet to play a game for the Brisbane Broncos – but his influence will be vital for the team’s success in 2022, says Phil Gould.
Brisbane have struggled mightily over the past couple of years, but despite the big-name acquisition at No.7, a huge question mark still hangs over who will partner Reynolds in the halves.
Billy Walters is said to have won the race for round one, ahead of the likes of Ezra Mam, Tyson Gamble, and Albert Kelly.
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“I think Reynolds might have a say in that (who plays five-eighth) in the end anyway,” Gould told Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“It could be any of them – I don’t know.
“But Reynolds is the one. He’s the flashing light, he’s the one that says Brisbane can be better than they were last year.”
Six Tackles with Gus kicks off 2022 with a two-part season preview. Click on this link to listen to Part 1 and return at midday on Wednesday March 2 for Part 2!
Reynolds and Walters are just two of several new signings for Brisbane in 2022, and are joined at Red Hill by premiership winner Kurt Capewell, Ryan James, Jordan Pereira and several other new faces.
“I think they’ve bought well, and they needed to. They were a long way off the pace,” Gould said.
A lot of pressure will be on former Souths captain Reynolds to perform off the back of a promising forward pack, led by the likes of Payne Haas, who many consider to be the best young forward in the game.
“They’ve always said ‘if we can just get a professional game manager’ – they’ve struggled in the halves,” Gould said.
“(Reynolds) hasn’t played in the trials, we still haven’t seen them with him playing. He’s really the big hope, he’s the one they’ve been looking for.”
Brisbane have battled for consistency in their halves pairing since mid-2019, when the duo of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima fell out of favour with then-coach Anthony Seibold.
“Every time I speak to Darren Lockyer – he’s on the board there at the Broncos – he says ‘we just need a game manager’. They’ve shuffled around the halves so often,” Gould said.
“This is what they’ve wanted. They’ve tried so many people in that No.7 jersey and it hasn’t worked for them… Reynolds could be the one that ignites everybody else.
“He can bring the rest of those young blokes to life, and give them the direction and the service they need to bring the best out in themselves.”
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