Reynolds backing Souths young gun

BRONCOS recruit Adam Reynolds has thrown his support behind Lachlan Ilias, urging the Souths rookie to be his own man as the Rabbitohs apprentice prepares to meet his master on Thursday night.

Ilias faces the biggest test of his fledgling 10-game career at Homebush’s Accor Stadium when he confronts Reynolds, the former Souths champion he has succeeded in the redand-green No.7 jumper.

Ilias, who turns 22 next Monday, had a night to forget in Souths’ shock 11-4 loss to the Broncos in the season opener and the Rabbitohs rookie has come under fire for some inconsistent displays in the opening two months.

Ilias (pictured) was always going to face a daunting baptism this season in the South Sydney nerve centre, given that Reynolds played 231 games for the Rabbitohs and helped break the club’s 43year premiership drought in 2014.

But as Reynolds prepares to face his former club for the first time in Broncos colours, Brisbane’s $2.4m marquee purchase urged Ilias not to be consumed by the pressure of living up to his Redfern legacy.

“Lachy has to be his own man,” Reynolds said ahead of his halfback duel with Ilias.

“He doesn’t have to live up to how I performed or what I did at Souths. I have a lot of respect for Lachy and I see a big future in him. He needs to play his own game and worry about himself. He doesn’t need to read headlines about me or follow what I did.

“What I achieved at Souths has got nothing to do with him. He is on his own path and I wish him all the best.”

Former Souths coach Wayne Bennett said Reynolds invested heavily in Ilias during his final months at Redfern before the former NSW Origin halfback departed for the Broncos.

“Adam was on the way out but he spent time with young Lachlan,” Bennett said.

“Adam did his bit but it’s up to them now.”