Brisbane‘s marquee man Adam Reynolds has brought the sorcery to Magic Round, delivering his side a 38-point victory over Manly.
Instrumental in the conquest, Reynolds bagged all six of his conversions, added a penalty goal and scored a stunning individual try as the Sea Eagles were kept scoreless on Friday.
The halfback’s pinpoint kicking was a highlight, setting up several tries for his teammates off the end of his golden boot.
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“There’s a new king in town, there’s a new king in Brisbane,” rugby league icon Paul Vautin said in commentary for Channel Nine.
“That’s why they pay him the big bucks,” added Cameron Smith.
“That’s why he was purchased by the Broncos, for those types of plays. He brings a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience to the Broncos. Those types of players they come up with big moments and that’s what he’s doing.”
Reynolds left Manly defenders bamboozled and exhausted in the dying stages of the first half, scoring a sumptuous chip and chase try.
With the Broncos hot on attack and not much space to work with, Reynolds put a deft kick over the top of the defensive line, beating fullback Tom Trbojevic to the ball on the bounce, before diving between the Manly fullback and the winger to score.
In awe of the remarkable play, Nine commentators Smith and Vautin compared it to the feats of pint-size former Broncos halfback Alfie Langer.
Speaking at half time, Nine panellists Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston said Reynolds’ dominance could not be underrated.
“He makes everyone around him confident,” Johns said.
“I heard people saying in the first couple of weeks they felt so comfortable at training because he’s organising his voice, he’s telling everyone what to do and it makes them better and they can then build on their combinations, especially their forwards.
“When they go forward and on the end of their set – his kicking game just puts the cherry on top.
“His kicking game is the best ever.”
“Because those forwards are getting quick play the balls for him, he’s able to kick on the front foot so he’s putting it exactly where he needs it to be and it’s putting the Manly Sea Eagles under a lot of pressure,” added Thurston.
Asked if he thought Reynolds was in career-best form, Thurston agreed.
“I said that when I was watching backstage there, I said, ‘I think he’s playing his best footy ever, so it’s good signs for the Broncos.”
The Broncos also had stellar performances from youngster Selwyn Cobbo, who scored a phenomenal hat-trick, and winger Corey Oates who bagged a late double as the Broncos secured their spot in the competition’s top six.