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https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/around-the-clubs-nrl-round-16-20250614-p5m7gl.html
Why Reynolds rejected Wests Tigers, and an extra $1 million
ByRobert Dillon and Christian Nicolussi
Updated June 16, 2025 — 10.54am first published June 15, 2025 — 1.35pm
Adam Reynolds said the appeal of being coached by Benji Marshall – and playing alongside Jarome Luai – seriously tempted him to join the Wests Tigers, but ultimately could not bring himself to leave his young family in Brisbane, even if it meant sacrificing close to $1m.
Reynolds is expected to ink a one-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos in the coming weeks, then later move into a coaching role at Red Hill, but only after the Tigers went to great lengths to try and convince him to return home to Sydney on a two-year deal worth around $750,000 a season.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson made a hit-and-run visit to the Queensland capital last week to see Reynolds’ the Tigers’ dream, while Marshall also spoke to the veteran half on how he thought he and Luai would work together.
The Tigers picked up the phone to Reynolds the moment Lachie Galvin made it known he was headed for the early exit, and while it was always going to take something big to prize the halfback, who turns 35 next month out of the Queensland capital, Richardson knew he had to at least try.
Reynolds spent six years playing in the Balmain competition as a junior, including five seasons with Leichhardt Juniors. He also played with Marshall at Souths and remains friends with Richardson after their time together at the Bunnies.
“Yes, I was seriously tempted,” Reynolds said. “Benji is a great coach, I’ve always had a lot of time for him – I idolised him as a player when I was growing up – but at the end of the day, family is the most important thing, and if I did leave for Sydney, it would have been without the family, and that was going to be too hard.
“The Tigers have a great spine, and I spoke to Benji about how me and Jarome could have worked. He’s an instinctive player who brings a lot of energy and plays off the cuff, while I’m that organising half.
“The biggest thing for me was I believed I could have added a lot to that team – that I could have added a lot of value to the Tigers.
“But with a wife and four young kids, and being away from them for the best part of two years, I just couldn’t do it to them. No amount of money could have changed my mind. I read reports I was giving up $1m by wanting to stay with Brisbane, and it probably wasn’t far off.
“But I love Brisbane, I’ve been on this journey with the boys here the past four years, and we’ve got some unfinished business.”
Reynolds is keen to move into coaching once he retires, and that is a genuine option should he stay at Red Hill.
Why Reynolds rejected Wests Tigers, and an extra $1 million
ByRobert Dillon and Christian Nicolussi
Updated June 16, 2025 — 10.54am first published June 15, 2025 — 1.35pm
Adam Reynolds said the appeal of being coached by Benji Marshall – and playing alongside Jarome Luai – seriously tempted him to join the Wests Tigers, but ultimately could not bring himself to leave his young family in Brisbane, even if it meant sacrificing close to $1m.
Reynolds is expected to ink a one-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos in the coming weeks, then later move into a coaching role at Red Hill, but only after the Tigers went to great lengths to try and convince him to return home to Sydney on a two-year deal worth around $750,000 a season.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson made a hit-and-run visit to the Queensland capital last week to see Reynolds’ the Tigers’ dream, while Marshall also spoke to the veteran half on how he thought he and Luai would work together.
The Tigers picked up the phone to Reynolds the moment Lachie Galvin made it known he was headed for the early exit, and while it was always going to take something big to prize the halfback, who turns 35 next month out of the Queensland capital, Richardson knew he had to at least try.
Reynolds spent six years playing in the Balmain competition as a junior, including five seasons with Leichhardt Juniors. He also played with Marshall at Souths and remains friends with Richardson after their time together at the Bunnies.
“Yes, I was seriously tempted,” Reynolds said. “Benji is a great coach, I’ve always had a lot of time for him – I idolised him as a player when I was growing up – but at the end of the day, family is the most important thing, and if I did leave for Sydney, it would have been without the family, and that was going to be too hard.
“The Tigers have a great spine, and I spoke to Benji about how me and Jarome could have worked. He’s an instinctive player who brings a lot of energy and plays off the cuff, while I’m that organising half.
“The biggest thing for me was I believed I could have added a lot to that team – that I could have added a lot of value to the Tigers.
“But with a wife and four young kids, and being away from them for the best part of two years, I just couldn’t do it to them. No amount of money could have changed my mind. I read reports I was giving up $1m by wanting to stay with Brisbane, and it probably wasn’t far off.
“But I love Brisbane, I’ve been on this journey with the boys here the past four years, and we’ve got some unfinished business.”
Reynolds is keen to move into coaching once he retires, and that is a genuine option should he stay at Red Hill.
