“I thought they loved me,” Reynolds quipped to referee Grant Atkins, only for Atkins to fire back: “They definitely don’t love me.”
Many of the Rabbitohs faithful who made their way to Accor Stadium were already shattered their club could not keep their home-grown legend. Souths offered a one-year extension, so the Broncos tempted him north with a three-year contract worth $2.4m.
You can only imagine the anger those same Souths fans were feeling as they watched their side slip to their fifth loss in nine rounds. Many of them headed for the exit early.
“There were mixed feelings. I have a lot of mates in the team and still have a lot of great relationships,” Reynolds said.
“I didn’t know what it was going to feel like until I got out here. I’m glad it’s over and I’ll pop into the sheds and have a beer with the boys. Me and Jai Arrow went at it non stop. I knew once we got out on the field there would be some push and shove and a bit of niggle, but it was all fun.
“We got the bragging rights, so I’m happy with that. That chapter is closed; I’m excited about the new one with the Broncos.”
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Reynolds’ replacement, Lachlan Ilias, has been solid in his first year in the top grade, but will take some time to reach the dizzy heights of his heavily inked predecessor.
Ilias is tough and was one of the few Souths players still chasing all the way when Cobbo raced 90m to seal the win.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said he was happy to get the win for Reynolds and “it didn’t surprise me” the way he had performed against his old club.
“He’s extremely talented, but he makes the other players and coaching staff around him a lot better as well – he’s proven in the opening eight weeks how valuable he is to us already,” Walters said.
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Walters knew from his first meeting with Reynolds at his home in Botany last year he would slip straight into the Broncos system.
Souths looked their best when they spread the ball right. Their two tries came via Taane Milne, who was shifted from left centre to the right flank in his return from a one-match suspension.
But they are a long way off their best. Cameron Murray is being forced to make way too many tackles, while opposition sides are doing their best to direct just as much traffic at Cook, which has left him gassed in attack.
Souths still have a wealth of talent, and Latrell Mitchell to return next month, but they need to click into gear soon, especially with their Origin contingent about to disappear for the taxing mid-year series.
‘Thought they loved me’: Reynolds inspires Broncos win over old Rabbitohs mates
Source: Philippines Alive
