Reynolds article

[2005magic]

Hi Guys

I noticed a Reynolds article behind the D.T paywall. Can anybody access and share? I suspect from the wording he is looking at staying at WT and doing the switch to hooker in absence of Liddle. Darn it if we are stuck with him (and Packer) until end of 2021 at $750k a season- thanks IC. Packer if fit and willing we can use, pretty sure same cant be said of Reynolds unless Benji goes down.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fteams%2Ftigers%2Fforgotten-wests-tigers-star-josh-reynolds-eyes-positional-switch-to-hooker-in-bid-to-revive-career%2Fnews-story%2F0608a4e9b01e256f73bb708f7d4304bc&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21suffix=47-a

 

[Ponyo]

@2005magic

Forgotten Wests Tigers star Josh Reynolds eyes positional switch to hooker in bid to revive career
He led the Blues to an Origin series win at five-eighth but forgotten Wests Tigers star Josh Reynolds concedes his NRL future rests with a move into the forward pack.

Michael Carayannis, The Daily Telegraph
Subscriber only

November 9, 2019 11:50am

Reynolds will train this pre-season at dummy half as the Tigers look to fill the void left by Robbie Farah’s retirement.

A serious knee injury to Jacob Liddle has the Tigers scrambling to find a suitable hooker.

Josh Reynolds is eyeing off the hooking role with the Tigers.
Skipper Moses Mbye could also find his way to the No. 9 jersey but it is Reynolds who wants first crack at it.

“(Coach Michael Maguire) and I have spoken about it,” Reynolds said.

“Benji (Marshall) and Brooksy (Luke Brooks) are going to be in the halves. I’m in the same predicament as this year. If that’s the way I need to get into the team then I’m all for it.

“The four weeks going into the last round I probably wouldn’t have said this but getting in there – it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. I was only playing 40-50 minutes, playing 80 minutes will be a different ball game but if that’s the way I’m going to get back in the team I will definitely take the position if it’s up for grabs.

“I’ve said to Madge if I’m a chance then I’ll have a crack.”

Injuries forced Reynolds to play at hooker in the final three games after losing the chance to partner Brooks in the halves to Marshall.

He spent the bulk of the season playing for Western Suburbs in the halves in reserve grade, struggling to get a shot in the top grade.

Reynolds said an opportunity to spend his first full pre-season training at hooker though will help him make the adjustments he needs to in his game.

“It wasn’t in my natural position,” Reynolds said.

“I felt pretty good in there. Just to be back in the team and among the boys it’s a different feeling then going in and not really being part of it. I was glad I could string a few games together.

“The fitness (is the biggest challenge). You’re in the washing machine. You’re non stop. In the halves you make two tackles and then you go back there. In the halves it’s different. Defence is the biggest thing I need to work on

“My attack comes naturally. It’s just getting to know the different techniques. I’ll still do some work at five-eighth but I know how to play there if I need to.”

“Benji (Marshall) and Brooksy (Luke Brooks) are going to be in the halves. I’m in the same predicament as this year. If that’s the way I need to get into the team then I’m all for it.

“The four weeks going into the last round I probably wouldn’t have said this but getting in there – it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. I was only playing 40-50 minutes, playing 80 minutes will be a different ball game but if that’s the way I’m going to get back in the team I will definitely take the position if it’s up for grabs.

“I’ve said to Madge if I’m a chance then I’ll have a crack.”

The injury to Jacob Liddle has thrown the Tigers’ hooker plans intio disarray.
The injury to Jacob Liddle has thrown the Tigers’ hooker plans intio disarray.
Reynolds arrived at the Tigers last year as a high-profile recruit from the Bulldogs. Injuries restricted him to just 12 games in his first two years and despite his inability to play consistent first grade, there was praise for the former Blues five-eighth who kept his energy levels at training high.

Reynolds, 30, has no intention of leaving the Tigers with his rich deal not ending until 2021.

“It’s been my most challenging year,” Reynolds said.

“Whether it was injury or not getting picked in the team. I had a bit of adversity. That’s just life isn’t it? I felt I handled it pretty well. Towards the back end I got some good footy in and I felt really good.

“It’s just life. There are a lot more worse things going on in life. You go in and see the boys and it’s nothing on them. There is no reason I should change towards them. I would like to think I never changed. It’s one of those things I hope I’m known for.

“(The contract talk) doesn’t distract me. I’m still contracted for two years. There a lot of people in worse positions without a contract. I’m there, they signed me. It is what it is. If something does pop-up I’ll assess the situation and we will go from there.”

 

[sheer64]

It is what it is.

Where have I heard that before?

 

[2005magic]

@Ponyo - Cheers, much appreciated.

 

[rustycage]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

 

[avocadoontoast]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

 

[diedpretty]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

Passing from dummy half can be improved over the off season. He will need to be fit enough to play close to 80 minutes and defend well. He reads a game as well as any half running around and hopefully that can be translated in to reading the game from the number 9 position where you don't have as much time as a half to decide. He is still quick enough off the mark to cause problems around the ruck.

 

[crazycat]

"The injury to Jacob Liddle has thrown the Tigers’ hooker plans intio disarray.
The injury to Jacob Liddle has thrown the Tigers’ hooker plans intio disarray."

Just reading how mangled that sentence is... Shows how much disarray we are in.
Tigers though we got to hang tough.
Personally I see Reynolds as being a damn good center. But the big question is what kind of Hooker will Reynolds be?
He is big on defense in 5/8. Picked often because of that role.
His mentor will be Robbie Farah.
He is known to run the ball, also to be a ball hog.

Other then being a little more grubby, I think were seeing Farah Mk2 and not in a good way.

 

[Madge]

Personally, I’m not a fan of Reynolds at hooker.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

Passing from dummy half can be improved over the off season. He will need to be fit enough to play close to 80 minutes and defend well. He reads a game as well as any half running around and hopefully that can be translated in to reading the game from the number 9 position where you don't have as much time as a half to decide. He is still quick enough off the mark to cause problems around the ruck.

I really want Reynolds to be in the team somewhere, I think we play a lot better when he is there. I’m just not sure he is the right choice to play hooker though. He is 30 years old, his body struggles for fitness constantly and he has ongoing injuries. Hooker is the most demanding position on the field and I don’t think it would be wise to put a ‘busted’ player in such a crucial role.

I know this sounds mad and most won’t agree with me, but I would try Brooks at dummy half - he is younger, stronger, faster and fitter than Reynolds, he reads the game just as well and he has the right body type for the role also. I reckon he would be a revelation at hooker, his speed out of dummy half would awesome! That way Reynolds could play in his familiar position at 5/8 with Benji at half where I think both are more suitable and effective.

In any case, didn’t we buy Walters to play hooker?

 

[avocadoontoast]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

Passing from dummy half can be improved over the off season. He will need to be fit enough to play close to 80 minutes and defend well. He reads a game as well as any half running around and hopefully that can be translated in to reading the game from the number 9 position where you don't have as much time as a half to decide. He is still quick enough off the mark to cause problems around the ruck.


I really want Reynolds to be in the team somewhere, I think we play a lot better when he is there. I’m just not sure he is the right choice to play hooker though. He is 30 years old, his body struggles for fitness constantly and he has ongoing injuries. Hooker is the most demanding position on the field and I don’t think it would be wise to put a ‘busted’ player in such a crucial role.

I know this sounds mad and most won’t agree with me, but I would try Brooks at dummy half - he is younger, stronger, faster and fitter than Reynolds, he reads the game just as well and he has the right body type for the role also. I reckon he would be a revelation at hooker, his speed out of dummy half would awesome! That way Reynolds could play in his familiar position at 5/8 with Benji at half where I think both are more suitable and effective.

In any case, didn’t we buy Walters to play hooker?

Brooks is a half, definitely not a hooker. I can’t see Reynolds in the 17.

 

[Newtown]

Putting Brooks at hooker would be a terrible waste. Walters is the better option.

 

[TIGER]

This position is our Achilles heel, unless we sign a decent 9 we will go nowhere and liddle isn't it either, if we're waiting around thinking we'll be right when liddle is back we're dreaming.

 

[avocadoontoast]

This position is our Achilles heel, unless we sign a decent 9 we will go nowhere and liddle isn't it either, if we're waiting around thinking we'll be right when liddle is back we're dreaming.

Agree re: Liddle. Time to move on.

 

[WeHaveCheeKam]

I don't get the lack of trust in him doing a job at 9. I think there's a lot of potential upside to him. Defence under fatigue is the main challenge but any first grader can get that sorted.

His service from dummy half was pretty bad. To be honest Reynolds would be the one I’d be most desperate to move on.

Passing from dummy half can be improved over the off season.

Can it? I honestly don't think at Reynolds age that core skills can be improved on. You either have it or you don't. Reynolds would have been practising passing his whole career, and while it is slightly different off the ground, it is a core skill. Service has never been Reynolds strong point and it was highlighted heavily in the last four rounds. His service was significantly slower than other number 9s and it halted our attack.

Lets face it, he is only staying at 9 cause no other club in the NRL put a legitimate offer of 300k or higher. I like him, but he is by far the biggest hinderence to our salary cap, or perhaps the least value for money player in the NRL at the moment.

 

[Russell]

This position is our Achilles heel, unless we sign a decent 9 we will go nowhere and liddle isn't it either, if we're waiting around thinking we'll be right when liddle is back we're dreaming.

Then I'm Dreamin'!

 

[finnzo]

Hi Guys

I noticed a Reynolds article behind the D.T paywall. Can anybody access and share? I suspect from the wording he is looking at staying at WT and doing the switch to hooker in absence of Liddle. Darn it if we are stuck with him (and Packer) until end of 2021 at $750k a season- thanks IC. Packer if fit and willing we can use, pretty sure same cant be said of Reynolds unless Benji goes down.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fteams%2Ftigers%2Fforgotten-wests-tigers-star-josh-reynolds-eyes-positional-switch-to-hooker-in-bid-to-revive-career%2Fnews-story%2F0608a4e9b01e256f73bb708f7d4304bc&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21suffix=47-a

I wonder how Reynolds would go at fullback? He’s got the speed ball playing And kicking game for it

 

[Madge]

@finnzo brother, that's worse than Sheens:rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

 

[finnzo]

@Madge haha just chucking it out there haha

 

[Snake]

A fit Reynolds that can play weekly is a huge positive , don’t be fooled about the hooking garbage in the paper ... he should be the starting 5/8 before Benji that said Benji will start the season there ..injuries will come the old boy will struggle next season .