Determined to salvage something from his last hurrah, Adam Reynolds says there is plenty for the Brisbane Broncos to play for as he vowed not to fade into retirement.

Reynolds will officially draw the curtain on his illustrious career at season’s end, leaving a gaping void in the No.7 jumper to be filled by either Tom Duffy or the incoming Jonah Pezet.

But while the 36-year-old appreciates form and fitness will dictate whether he remains in the hot seat – his five try assists from 13 games in an injury-interrupted season a far cry from his 2025 heroics – he believed he still had unfinished business.

“That’s up to the coaches to decide. I feel like I’ve still got a role to play here and a job to do,” Reynolds said.

“You don’t just get given jerseys at the Broncos, you’ve got to earn them. I’ve certainly had my fair share of injuries, and it’s easy when you’re not getting the results to put everyone under the microscope – and rightfully so.

“Whether I could be a bit better or not out there, I’m certainly working hard on my craft here.”

The killer instinct

The dust had barely settled on the 2025 trophy parade before the Broncos were fending off criticism. In February, marquee prop Payne Haas announced his imminent defection to South Sydney, and talk centred on coach Michael Maguire’s stranglehold on the dressing room.

Lacklustre defensive showings against Hull KR, Penrith and Parramatta to launch their title defence did little to silence the chatter, nor did assistant coach Ben Te’o’s sudden departure after an apparent falling out with Maguire.

While they would win five of their next six games in the face of an overflowing casualty ward – at one stage having 15 top-line players sidelined – an eight-game losing streak all but ended their finals hopes, conceding 270 points (33.75 a game) in that time.

It led Broncos legend Darren Lockyer to say on Nine’s 100% Footy the team “haven’t had the same desire they had last year in winning the moments that matter when it counts”.

In round nine, Brisbane came from 30-0 down against the Roosters to trail by six points, and were on the attack again before Pat Carrigan’s loose offload attempt. From that set, Kotoni Staggs was sent to the sin bin for laying a forearm into Hugo Savala on the ground, and the Broncos lost 38-24.

In round 14 against the Gold Coast, Titans fullback Keano Kini produced a chip and chase to snatch the lead, with Reece Walsh criticised for not attacking the loose ball with the same venom.

From Brisbane’s last roll of the dice after a late Josiah Karapani break, Ezra Mam’s decision to instead place in a grubber kick – which was batted dead by Kini – was slammed by pundits.

Even in last week’s 18-10 defeat to North Queensland, a kick ahead from Deine Mariner took the harshest of bounces which Mam could not control with the line in sight.

However, Reynolds denied a lack of hunger was behind the lapses.

“I’d say the hunger has been there, we’re working extremely hard at training to get those moments right. Unfortunately, you don’t always get the bounce of the ball go your way,” Reynolds said.

“It’s a credit to the rest of the competition as well. I think the standard across the NRL has gotten better this year, and you have to credit those other teams.

“There will be a time when we get our luck back, and we get the bounce of the ball, and when we do, we’ll be hard to stop.”

Avenging the fall

Haas’ departure has been compounded by the retirement of his front-row partner Corey Jensen, who has been forced from the game after suffering a pulmonary embolism.

It leaves the Broncos searching for a new front-row union.

Blues prop Mitch Barnett will arrive, while Xavier Willison looms as a retention priority before he can hit the open market from November 1.

What they have lacked has been a supporting act for Haas in the way Willison and Kobe Hetherington came off the bench last year, and the club must entrust their developing rookies with greater responsibility.

Eight-game, 110-kilogram wrecking ball Va’a Semu will make his second starting appearance against Newcastle on Saturday, while there is plenty of hype around teenager Tupou Francis – who landed on pundits’ radars after the lock’s two-try exploits for the Queensland under-19s.

“The experience these guys have gained throughout tough parts of this year is going to be valuable moving forward,” Reynolds said.

“What that does is strengthen the club going forward, gives them a bit of experience through next year – when you’ve got more experienced players in the squad, you get better results on the training park which leads to better game results.

“We’ve got big Payno here until the end of the year, and no doubt those boys want to learn as much as they can off him before he leaves.”

To nurture those young players, Brisbane still need leaders, and while Dane Gagai will join the backline, Reynolds was adamant fellow veteran Ben Hunt should not be forced to renege on his 2027 contract extension.

Hunt’s form has been subject to plenty of criticism, and he has been named in jersey No.17 for the clash with the Knights as Billy Walters looms as the interchange hooker.

“He’s the ultimate professional, I’ve been around a lot of players in the game, and the way he gets himself up for each week speaks volumes for the career he’s had,” Reynolds said of Hunt.

“I back him to go again next year, and if the club’s having a better year … I’m sure we’ll see the best of him.”