Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds has played his last game in the NRL, with the two-time premiership winner reluctantly calling time on his career with two matches of the season remaining.
Reynolds completed training on Monday and was targeting a Suncorp Stadium swansong on Thursday night against the Melbourne Storm.
But coach Michael Maguire and the club’s medical team were worried about Reynolds breaking down and were not prepared to entertain images of him being helped from the field on his final home appearance.
The 36-year-old who played 323 games – including grand final wins in 2014 with Souths and last year with the Broncos – phoned up to 50 family and friends to tell them not to fly to Brisbane for his farewell.
“I got through training, I felt pretty good, but after talking with ‘Madge’ and the medical staff, they weren’t keen to see me go out there and finish with another potential injury, then go out like that,” Reynolds said.
“They’ve worked with me behind the scenes for years, they know me better than myself. They didn’t want me being injured to be last image fans remembered me by.
“I knew it was coming to an end, be it this week or next week. Once the decision was made, I thought I’d get it out there, get on with life, and keep the focus on the team because they’ve still got to go out there and perform. There are other players preparing for their last game at the club, so it’s important to celebrate them as much as myself. I just hope we get the win.”
Reynolds said he did not want any fuss or presentations. “If I had my way, I don’t want any parades, and I’d prefer to go out the back door quietly,” he said.
Reynolds said Mad Monday celebrations “would now become a mad month”, before he returns next season in a coaching role, where he will work with the club’s halves and pathways.
Reynolds told this masthead on Sunday he had no regrets about playing on this year, despite injury and a concussion limiting him to just 14 games.
Reynolds has been struggling with nerve pain in his left calf for most of the season, then suffered a slight strain in his right calf at training a couple of weeks ago.
“The year hasn’t worked out like I had hoped for myself and the club – but there are no regrets about playing on,” he said.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’d love to go around again, to be honest, but it won’t happen with where I’m at in my career. It’s easy to say I should have finished up at the end of last year, but there was that opportunity go back to back and do something special. That doesn’t come around too often in your NRL career.
“If there is one thing we’ve learned this year, it’s knowing what is required to be at the top level week in week out, and the processes you need to get right in the pre-season and the early parts of the year.”
Reynolds backed Michael Maguire to remain the long-term coach at Red Hill.
“There’s always noise around ‘Madge’ – [but] he sticks to his guns, he’s got the results, and he’s a winner,” Reynolds said.
“We’ve had injuries and suspensions and inconsistent games – none of that is down to the preparation and input Madge has over the playing group. We just haven’t lived up to our potential.”
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