Adam perfect skipper for Broncos: Bennett
WAYNE Bennett has urged the Broncos to give Adam Reynolds the club captaincy as the departing South Sydney skipper prepares to make a gutsy grand final farewell.
Reynolds will carry a groin injury into Sunday’s premiership decider against Penrith after admitting he will not be 100 per cent fit for his last game in Souths colours.
Reynolds trained separately to his teammates at Tuesday’s open session on the Gold Coast and failed to take part in any match simulation practice.
The star halfback declared himself a certain starter but admitted he would not be at his peak for the big game.
“I’m feeling good. I ran a bit today, I still have a few boxes to tick to get through the week,” he said.
“I ran at about 80 per cent. I’ll have more physio in the coming days but things are progressing well.
“I don’t know if I will get to 100 per cent but I will be pretty close. I have full trust in the Souths’ medical staff. They have a plan in place and I’ve been working around the clock with them non-stop to get the groin right.
“It’s feeling much better. As a kid you dream of being on the big stage so I’m not nervous. I’m excited.”
The grand final will be Reynolds’ 231st and last game for the Rabbitohs before he joins Brisbane next season on a three-year deal.
With Alex Glenn retiring this year, the Broncos’ captaincy is up for grabs and Brisbane has a leadership void.
But Souths coach Bennett, who coached Brisbane in all six of its premiership triumphs, said Reynolds was the man to lead the Red Hill revolution.
“The answer is an absolute yes 1000 times over,” he said when asked if Reynolds should captain the Broncos.
“I didn’t hesitate when Sam Burgess retired to make Adam captain and if I was at the Broncos, I wouldn’t blink on making him captain again.
“He will bring to the Broncos a lot of things off the field that people won’t see. He comes from a very strong club at Souths and he has matured enormously as a leader of men.
“I’m not sure of the Broncos of today, but the Broncos of yesteryear had the qualities that Souths have today as a club. Adam is going to bring exactly what they need.”
Reynolds is the leading Broncos’ captaincy contender while the likes of Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas and Penrith recruit Kurt Capewell are also leadership options.
Capewell will face-off with Reynolds on Sunday and threw his support behind the No.7 taking charge.
“Adam would be a great captain for the Broncos,” he said.