Adam Reynolds' emphatic answer to Broncos captaincy question after Patrick Carrigan call
There have been calls for Carrigan to replace Reynolds as Broncos captain.
Adam Reynolds has given an definitive response to questions over his captaincy at the Broncos after declaring he "100 per cent" wants to remain skipper in 2025. Pat Carrigan has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Reynolds after being given a glowing endorsement from Brisbane legend Gorden Tallis to take the reins at the Broncos under new coach Michael Maguire next season.
Maguire could look to shake things up at a Broncos side looking for a fresh start after an underwhelming 2024 NRL season that culminated in the sacking of coach Kevin Walters. However, Carrigan has already distanced himself from the captaincy rumours and thrown his support behind Reynolds, who says he would relish the chance to lead Brisbane again in 2025.
“I’d love to do the job next year, 100 per cent,” Reynolds told The Courier Mail. “I love the battle of the captaincy and the mental side of things as well." Reynolds accepts the criticism he's faced after Brisbane's hugely disappointing year that saw them go from grand finalists in 2023 to finishing 12th and missing out on the finals 12 months later.
The 34-year-old says the backlash he's faced is all part and parcel of being the halfback as well as the captain. And Reynolds says even if Maguire did decide to replace him as captain it would not really change his role or level of communication on the field.
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“If the club or the coach wants me to be the captain, I’m more than happy to continue that job next season but if someone steps in and whether I have the ‘C’ next to my name or not, not much changes to be honest," he added. “I’d still be just as vocal, and I’d still have a large input into the game plan and all those sorts of things (if he’s not the skipper). But I do enjoy the job, absolutely.”
Reynolds is close to his new coach Maguire after playing under the veteran mentor at the Rabbitohs, where they won a premiership together in 2014. And Maguire has crucially also backed Reynolds to retain the captaincy. “I don’t have any reason (to replace Reynolds as captain),” Maguire told SEN.
“I’ve had a long relationship with Adam and have got a lot of time for Adam. We won a comp together. He is a winner. He’s taken that team to some pretty good places already, so as long as he’s fit and healthy and he is right, he is a great leader.” Maguire's call comes after Carrigan also shot down suggestions he was in line to replace the experienced halfback as club captain.
Pat Carrigan throws support behind skipper Adam Reynolds
"No chance, 100 per cent behind Reyno," Carrigan said. "People that know him as a leader and the influence he has on the club, it's second to none he should be skipper of our team." Reynolds is keen to have a less disrupted season in 2025 after playing just 13 games this year following a number of injuries, including a ruptured bicep that kept him sidelined for three months.
Reynolds says he will work closely with Brisbane's physios and strength-and-conditioning coaches to give his body the best chance of enduring another brutal NRL campaign. The veteran No.7 has been tipped to retire when his contract runs out at the end of next season but the 34-year-old has kept the door ajar to playing on in 2026.
“I’ll be at the midway point next year. If things are going well and I’m playing good enough footy, we’ll reassess, but it’s still a long way away,” he added. Reynolds is determined to help snap Brisbane's 19-year premiership drought and says he is "hungrier than ever" and excited to once again work with Maguire and put a disappointing 2024 season behind him.
