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Broncos captain clears the air about foiled farewell
Scott Bailey & Jasper Bruce, AAP •  August 25th, 2026 8:00 pm
Adam Reynolds has set the record straight, explaining who's decision it was to call time on 2026. (AAP
Cody Walker has taken a swipe at Brisbane's "highly disappointing" decision to sideline close friend Adam Reynolds for the final two rounds, as the retiring Broncos captain attempted to walk back comments around his calf injury.
Reynolds on Tuesday insisted it had been his call to be ruled unavailable for the final two rounds, against Melbourne and Canterbury, after initially stating Brisbane's coaching staff made the decision.
Speaking on Monday, Reynolds said he had felt fine training and completed the session, before coach Michael Maguire and medical staff expressed concerns with a lack of load.
That prompted widespread criticism of Maguire and the Broncos, given Brisbane are out of finals contention and the premiership-winning captain could theoretically have come off the bench.
Adam Reynolds and friend Cody Walker bookend Jai Arrow after the Souths-Brisbane clash in round 15 | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Walker was among those to query the call on Tuesday, while admitting he did not have the full detail around his former South Sydney halves partner's situation.
The pair played 126 games together, including guiding Souths to the 2021 grand final.
"I'm not entirely sure what's happened up there, but for him not to be able to have his own farewell and go out on his own terms is highly disappointing," Walker said.
"I just hope he's doing all right."
Walker's concerns came before Reynolds fronted a brief press conference at Broncos HQ on Tuesday afternoon, and said his comments had been "blown out of proportion"
Adam Reynolds and Michael Maguire were all smiles after tasting grand final glory in 2025 | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"I feel it's unfair to blame Madge (Maguire) in the situation," Reynolds said.
"It was my choice to call time. It's been perceived as Madge's call. He's given me the opportunity to get back out on the field.
"I feel for Madge. There is no better relationship in sport than me and Madge, given the time we have had across two clubs both on and off the field."
The news of Reynolds having played his last game came as a surprise even to teammates, with Ben Hunt telling radio station 4BC the Broncos were "pretty shocked" the veteran would not return to the field.
Adam Reynolds has been watching from the stands since a big home loss to Newcastle | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Reynolds said that he had spoken on Triple M briefly after the conversation with Maguire on Monday, and had not properly processed the situation while emotional.
The 36-year-old also insisted he did not want to be given 20 minutes as a farewell, while spending most the game on the bench.
"That wouldn't have satisfied me," Reynolds said.
"I want to play 80 minutes, I want to get out there. Unfortunately I am not at 100 per cent, and I don't want to go out there and let my teammates down.
"There is still a farewell. It was my call."
Reynolds' comments this week add to the confusion around his calf injury.
After initially being concussed in round 22, Maguire had revealed a week later that Reynolds was unable to train due to a calf issue.
The Brisbane halfback then insisted hours later his absence from the team was not injury related.
Footage posted by the Broncos then showed him running in a closed session the next day, before he then suffered another calf injury that ultimately ended his 323-game career.
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