With the New South Wales No.7 jumper still very much up for grabs and the Rabbitohs back in the winners column for the first time in a month, South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds says nothing has changed for him after playing a part in the Rabbitohs' 16-10 win over the Dragons on Monday.
Making his first appearance in the myrtle and cardinal since the infamous Good Friday clash against the Bulldogs where his knee was injured after a collision with prop James Graham, Reynolds said he has to continue playing like he's featured in the team the entire time.
"I just have to do my part for the team, play my role and lead the boys around and give us a good kicking game," Reynolds said.
"I thought the boys laid a great platform for me to do that [against the Dragons]. Being a half, you have to be a leader around the place, along with Greg Inglis, Luke Keary and Issac Luke it's our job week-in, week-out to steer the ship so we just have to keep performing."
"I felt a bit rusty in patches throughout the game but it seems like forever since I've been on a field so I'm overall pleased with the performance."
He may be focused purely on South Sydney's NRL campaign, but with Roosters duo Mitch Pearce and James Maloney and Bulldogs halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds seemingly fighting it out to be in Laurie Daley's Blues team, Reynolds has become somewhat of a dark horse to earn his Origin debut.
With a clash against Melbourne and Queensland halfback Cooper Cronk beckoning this Saturday night, Reynolds could throw his hat in the ring for selection with another solid performance, though he said he "can't worry about" representative football considering he's just one game into his return.
"All I can do is play consistent football for Souths," Reynolds said.
"It's something I'd love to do, it was my dream as a kid to play representative football and [if] the chance comes begging I'd love to grab it with both hands and really embrace it."
As for his repaired knee, having overcome a grade three lateral tear, Reynolds said it felt 100 per cent throughout the Dragons game.
"The knee is fine," he said. "I've done a fair bit of practice on it throughout the week leading into this one so I'm very thankful for the physio team.
"Eddie Farah worked around the clock to get me back out there and to get it back to as strong as it is."
