Bronco chiefs are half keen
THE Broncos will decide on Monday whether to table a formal contract for Souths halfback Adam Reynolds as offcontract Brisbane rookie Tom Dearden fields $1 million-plus offers to leave Red Hill.
Brisbane‘s recruitmentand-retention committee will hold talks with coach Kevin Walters to determine whether they will ramp up their pursuit of Reynolds in the wake of his masterclass against the Broncos last Thursday night.
It is understood Broncos chairman Karl Morris has given the green light for Brisbane’s recruitment arm to launch a poaching raid on Reynolds, whose contract spat with Souths could force him out of Redfern.
Broncos recruitment chiefs have privately discussed the pros and cons of signing Reynolds but whether they proceed with a formal offer will hinge a Monday meeting that examines the club’s salary cap.
There is a view Reynolds, 31 in July, could be a valuable mentor for Dearden, a Palm Beach Currumbin State High School graduate, but there is also the risk that the Souths maestro’s arrival at the Broncos next season could convince Dearden to walk away to chase a starting spot elsewhere.
While the Broncos have yet to table a deal for Dearden, the 20-year-old halfback has interest from four NRL rivals, including the Cowboys.
The former Australian Schoolboys young gun has fielded three-year offers in excess of $350,000 a season.
The Cowboys met Dearden in Townsville in February and plan to escalate their interest this week by tabling a multiyear offer following Michael Morgan’s medical retirement, which gives North Queensland major spending power under the salary cap.
The Cowboys have also made inquiries with Reynolds’ management and the Souths stalwart’s next career move could influence whether Dearden stays loyal to the Broncos.
North Queensland recruitment chief Dane Campbell has drawn up an extensive hit-list of targets as the Cowboys look to replace Morgan and Newcastle-bound halfback Jake Clifford next season.
“Tom is in the discussions around what we are doing for a halves replacement for ‘Cliffo’ next year,” Cowboys football operations boss Michael Luck said.
“Our job is to put an NRL roster together that can help our talented young guys.”
Reynolds’ sublime performance in Souths’ 35-6 drubbing of the Broncos will not trigger a change of heart from Rabbitohs bosses.
They want to retain the premiership halfback on a year-by-year basis and that retention strategy will not be altered.
That opens the door for the Cowboys, Broncos and other NRL rivals to snatch Reynolds, who is seeking a three-year deal worth $700,000 a season.
Dearden has been linked with an immediate transfer to the Cowboys but his manager Sam Ayoub said the 20-game rookie will not rush a decision.