Reynolds to come up against old team as Walker finds it tough

SOUTH Sydney star Cody Walker and former teammate and halves collaborator Adam Reynolds will be reunited on the same field on Thursday night – but Broncos champion Reynolds will be playing against Souths for the first time in his 11-year, 238-game NRL career.

While Walker’s form has sparked over the past fortnight but he has recorded an overall decrease in try assists, runs per game, line-break assists, run metres and forced dropouts this year compared to last season.

His error rate has jumped. “Cody is missing Adam. They gelled together like best friends,” said legendary Souths halfback Craig Coleman, who coached Reynolds for two years in Souths’ SG Ball side.

“That lethal left-hand side – it was always Reynolds and Cody. Reynolds gave Cody all that room, space and time.

“Cody is finding life without Adam is that little bit harder.

“Plus, they team up on Cody a bit now that Adam’s not there. They don’t really worry about the bloke inside him so they push out and get on Cody.

“Cody’s not comfortable kicking the ball, he is a footballer who just wants to play. Reynolds did all that for him.

“When they attacked, Reynolds went deep into the line and got Cody nice early ball and Cody played football.

“Cody would throw beautiful long passes or show-and-go himself. When Cody was ‘on’, we were unstoppable down that edge.

“Cody is too good a player, I think he will come good.”

Reynolds, who played 231 NRL matches for the Rabbitohs, said Souths’ ball control may be affecting Walker’s form.

“If you look at their ball control, they have been well below where they have needed to be,” he said.

“When it is not going your way it is pretty hard as a ballplayer to get into a game.

“We all know what a ballplayer Cody Walker is. He can hurt you from anywhere on the field. It’s about limiting his opportunities.”

Reynolds missed Brisbane’s round 1 match against Souths in March but will lead a rejuvenated Brisbane into battle at Accor Stadium on Thursday.

Coleman still questions Reynolds’ shock departure after last season.

“If Reynolds was there, we’d be a shoo-in for the top four, again. Now, I think it will be hard,” said Coleman, who played 208 matches for the club.