Reynolds ideal fit for Souths

SOUTH Sydney fans must be wondering what could have been last year if only halfback Adam Reynolds had not broken down with a serious knee injury and been able to challenge Chris Sandow for the club’s No. 7 jumper.

Fortunately, the Rabbitohs faithful have had plenty to cheer in 2012 as Reynolds failed to put a foot wrong in a debut season, which was always going to make him an odds-on favourite for Rookie of the Year.

There were plenty of new f a c e s i n t h e N R L w h o impressed this season, including Reynolds’ mature-aged teammate and leading tryscorer Andrew Everingham.

Gold Coast pivot Aidan Sezer, Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon a n d Warriors wrecking ball Konrad Hurrell were also in the mix. Some wondered why Bulldogs fiveeighth Josh Reynolds was not considered but his 10 games last year made him ineligible.

Reynolds triumphed because of his consistency and comp o s u r e , whether k i c k i n g sideline conversions to send games into golden-point – like he did against the Wests Tigers – or slotting winning field goals against the Dragons.

There were fears the 22-yearold would struggle to fill the giant boots left by popular Sandow, who was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2008.

But Reynolds has quickly made a name for himself.

Who can forget the way he mowed down his predecessor and denied him a certain fourpointer during a SouthsParramatta clash?

Heavily tattooed and already a father of two, the Souths junior has kept his feet on the ground, and often been given a wrap by his senior teammates, including Matt King, who spent plenty of time working with the playmaker in the preseason.

The wraps came so thick and fast that Reynolds was being touted as Mitchell Pearce’s NSW halfback replacement after the Blues’ seventh straight Origin series defeat.

Plenty of rookies have gone on to bigger and better things.