Adam Reynolds has declared he wants to retain the Broncos captaincy as a new dawn breaks under Michael Maguire – and the incoming coach won’t stand in his way.
Reynolds, 34, managed just 13 games this year after a slew of injuries including a biceps complaint that sidelined him for three months.
Three-time Broncos premiership-winner Gorden Tallis has called for Pat Carrigan to be installed as captain after Brisbane’s tumultuous season which resulted in former coach Kevin Walters parting ways with the club following their 12th-placed finish.
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Reynolds said he was hopeful of skippering the side next year but would hold no grudges should the club decide to go in a different direction.
“I’d love to do the job next year, 100 per cent,” Reynolds told The Courier Mail.
“I love the battle of the captaincy and the mental side of things as well.
“When the team’s not going well, everything’s going to fall on the halfback and the captain.
“If the club or the coach wants me to be the captain, I’m more than happy to continue that job next season.
“But if someone steps in and whether I have the ‘C’ next to my name or not, not much changes to be honest.
“I’d still be just as vocal, and I’d still have a large input into the game plan and all those sorts of things (if he’s not the skipper).
“But I do enjoy the job, absolutely.”
But Maguire, who is close with Reynolds after spending six seasons together at South Sydney which culminated with the 2014 premiership, said he’s happy for his halfback to continue leading the Broncos.
“I don’t have any reason (to replace Reynolds as captain),” Maguire told SEN.
“I’ve had a long relationship with Adam and have got a lot of time for Adam. We won a comp together
“He is a winner. He’s taken that team to some pretty good places already, so as long as he’s fit and healthy and he is right, he is a great leader.”
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The Broncos No.7 is off-contract next year and is expected to retire, however, he said he won’t be rushed into making a decision on his future.
“I’ll be at the midway point next year. If things are going well and I’m playing good enough footy, we’ll reassess, but it’s still a long way away,” he said.
Reynolds said he was hoping to have more output next season after an injury-ravaged year as he sits just 13 games shy off joining the esteemed 300 club.
“I will work with the physios and the strength-and-conditioning coaches and see what they think is best,” he said.
“I might try and change my body type a little bit, get a plan and go from there.
“I’m happy to be guided by the medical staff and make sure I’m working hard in pre-season because it was a frustrating year for me with injuries.”
Reynolds, who is heading into his fourth campaign at Red Hill, said he was determined to help end Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.
“I’m as hungry as ever,” he said.
“I think it’s more mentally you’ve got to get yourself right rather than the body.
“If you’re mentally strong enough the body will follow and that’s one thing that ‘Madge’ (Maguire) is very big on.
“Anytime your coach gets sacked or let go you want to bounce back.
“It’s never a good feeling when that happens … as players you feel like that’s part of your responsibility because you didn’t get the job done.
“Of course there’s a bounce-back factor there and I’m hungry as ever to succeed.”
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