Veteran playmaker Adam Reynolds has confirmed he will retire at the end of the 2026 season, hanging the boots up after a stellar career.
The 35-year-old made his NRL debut at the Rabbitohs in 2012, going on to win one premiership with South Sydney and another with the Broncos last season.
By the time his 2026 campaign comes to a close, Reynolds will have spent 15 seasons in the NRL, currently having played 309 first grade games.
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“A fantastic opportunity for us to lead into another great year, we had success last year but we are chasing more success. For me, it will be my last year in the NRL,” Reynolds said at the Broncos’ season launch on Monday.
“Looking forward to finishing off on a high and creating some more memories along the way… to be honest, not much will change.
“We are still hungry, we are chasing more success. Obviously we have a great opportunity heading over to England tonight.
Reynolds: “The job’s not finished yet!” | 00:36
“The boys that are heading over there will knuckle down and prepare really well and try and bring that trophy home to ‘Brissy’ (Brisbane).
“It’s a fantastic game to be involved in and it sets us up for another fantastic season. Looking forward to finishing on a high, but there’s a lot of steps in place to try and achieve that.”
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Adam Reynolds has announced his NRL retirement.Source: FOX SPORTS
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Reynolds arrived at the Broncos in 2022, with the famous Brisbane club finishing 14th and with a wooden spoon in the two years prior.
After the veteran halfback landed in Red Hill, the Broncos immediately improved to ninth before going down in the grand final to the Panthers in 2023.
While Brisbane slumped to 12th in a disappointing campaign in 2024, they bounced back under Michael Maguire with a premiership, the second of Reynolds’ storied career.
Pat Carrigan has played alongside Reynolds is each of his four Broncos seasons and he paid tribute to his teammate.
“It’s no lie that ‘Reyno’ entered the Brisbane Broncos family at a pretty important time, our trajectory as a group has come off the back of his influence at the club,” Carrigan said.
“So it’s been a privilege to be able to play alongside him and to follow him out to battle for one last year.”
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He also explained that, while it’s a bonus, his teammates don’t need the added motivation of Reynolds’ retirement to inspire their attempts at going back-to-back.
“I know the little man wouldn’t like us making it about him, to be honest our job is to win and that’s what we expect as a group,” Carrigan said.
“Coming off the back of last year, and a successful campaign, we want nothing more than to be able to have the opportunity to run that back.
“So there’s a lot of hard work that’s going to go on inbetween, but we certainly aren’t short of any motivation.
“I know it’s the little man’s last year like we said, but we certainly aren’t short of any motivation.”
Reynolds’ decision comes only a day after the Broncos were handed a hammer blow on Sunday, with Payne Haas making a shock switch after signing a three-year deal with the Rabbitohs.
Haas was expected to sign a one-year contract to remain with the Brisbane club, but will instead link up with Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney side in 2027.
Reynolds, meanwhile, was without a contract beyond this year, but had previously revealed he was considering playing on and negotiating a new deal at the Broncos or an NRL rival.
Reynolds: “Love everything about Payno!” | 00:24
However, he had a change of heart and according to Code Sports has a plan in place with Brisbane powerbrokers to transition into coaching, joining Michael Maguire’s staff next season.
Instead of competing for a spot in the Broncos’ starting halves, Reynolds will become a mentor to Ezra Mam and Jonah Pezet, who arrives ahead of the 2027 season.
As for the Broncos’ impending trip to England to face Hull KR in the World Club Championship, Reynolds was excited and said his team were prepared.
“It’s a fantastic achievement, every player wants to play in these games. We’ve got the opportunity to go across there now, have got to expect the unexpected,” he said.
“It’s going to be nice and cold, windy and what not. We can’t use conditions as an excuse, something we have prepared for all pre-season.
“Whatever comes our way, it’s how we handle it and look I’m just excited to get over there and make some memories with this bunch of boys and bring back some silverware.”