Broncos star Adam Reynolds has opened up on how Wayne Bennett “saved” his marriage and why the messy exit from the Rabbitohs which left him feeling “ticked off”.
This Friday night, Reynolds will face his former side and former coach in Bennett when Brisbane hosts Souths at Suncorp Stadium.
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In a wide-ranging interview on the Inside Ball podcast, co-hosted by another former coach of Reynolds’ in Kevin Walters, the veteran halfback revealed that in 2020, Bennett was key in saving his marriage with wife Tallara.
Reynolds said his relationship with Tallara was rocky, until he turned to Bennett who was his club coach at Souths at the time.
“It was a really tough part of my life,” Reynolds said.
“One thing I have been good at is parking my emotions to the side and focusing on what I need to at the time.
“If I didn’t have that guidance from Wayne I don’t know where I’d be. He saved it (his marriage).
Reynolds’ story is just another example of the massive impact Bennett has had on professional rugby league players over the past three decades.
While considered one of the greatest coaches ever, Bennett’s ability to connect with his players is unrivalled.
“He’s very good at reading the room and I probably wasn’t giving out too much and he dragged me aside one day and checked in on me,” Reynolds said.
“I opened up to Wayne because he gets the trust of the person and he gave me guidance and regularly checked in to see what’s going on.”
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Reynolds and Bennett both left the Rabbitohs in 2021.
Bennett departed to help start up the incoming Dolphins while Reynolds was swept off his feet by the Broncos, signing a three-year deal from 2022.
Even though Reynolds says he couldn’t be happier in Brisbane, four years ago, he thought he’d finish up a one-club man.
Souths was the team he supported growing up and had spent ten seasons at, winning a grand final in 2014.
He wanted to stay, but the Rabbitohs weren’t willing to come to the party.
“It was frustrating through that time because all you want to do is stay at the club and finish your career there,” Reynolds said about his 2021 contract negotiations with Souths.
“We got to the negotiating table and they offered half the money that I was on the previous year. They tossed up a one-year offer and I wanted two years … we couldn’t get to an agreement there.
“Things sort of started getting leaked in the media that I couldn’t train, my body wasn’t well, this and that.
“Whether it was them (Souths) or not, I don’t know but it sort of ticked me off a bit.”
Cronulla were the favourites to land Reynolds before the Broncos swooped in with a touching gesture.
“Dave (Donaghy – Broncos CEO) and Kev (Walters) flew down, came to my house and presented me with this jersey,” Reynolds said.
“I remember looking at it and thinking how much I admired the Broncos and Allan Langer from afar.
“It was nice that they felt they could trust me to go and do the job for them and their organisation and that jersey moment was a good little touch that won me over.”
