Reynolds open to two-year deal but will hit market if Souths don't budge

Rabbitohs skipper Adam Reynolds is prepared to consider a two-year extension to remain at Redfern but will go to market imminently if Souths keep holding firm on their one-year offer.

His uncertain future has dominated the build-up to Thursday's season opener against Melbourne, with his contract stand-off continuing after further meetings last week.

The premiership-winning half has made it clear he wanted long-term security beyond 2021 and originally targeted another three seasons in cardinal and myrtle.

Souths have not moved from their original one-year extension and have shown no inclination to do so in discussions, though a two-year offer with a club option for a third was reported to be in the works late last week.

The Rabbitohs remain mindful of being burned by long-term deals like those that Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis did not see out at the end of their careers.

CEO Blake Solly declined to comment on specifics of Reynolds’ negotiations on Monday, telling NRL.com: “We love having Adam at the club, his record speaks for itself and we want him to stay. We have to find a deal that works for Adam and the club.”

While teammate Damien Cook says Reynolds hasn't been affected leading into Thursday's Storm showdown, the veteran halfback's agent Steve Gillis says he will take his client to market if the club's stance doesn't soften when talks are picked up again after round one.

"Until we find some common ground it’s unlikely there will be any negotiation with the Rabbitohs on a one-year term," Gillis told NRL.com on Monday.

"It’s important to be clear. Adam wants to stay at Souths and wants to be a one-club player. He is simply looking for a little more security, he would definitely look at two [seasons].

"A two-year term takes him to age 33 which is by no means confronting – especially nowadays where it’s becoming common for guys to play well beyond that age."

While opposing No.7 Jahrome Hughes inked his own three-year extension last week with the Storm, taking one potential Reynolds suitor out of the mix, a convoluted halves market would likely mean an NRL rival would be willing to table a longer-term offer.

Cook meanwhile said Reynolds has kicked on at training rather than kick stones since the contract saga went public a few weeks ago.

On the same day that co-owner Russell Crowe rode a pushbike to Redfern Oval to watch Wayne Bennett's side go through their paces, Reynolds has apparently looked to ease any tension himself at training.

"You obviously check in with the player and see how he's going, and Reyno is OK, but then sometimes it's good to make a joke about it," Cook said on Monday.

"Reyno does. I think he's enjoyed the laugh, taking the piss out of it a little bit and lightening the mood. It's all in good fun but I'm sure they'll sort it out eventually.

"Reyno was one of the big reasons I came to South Sydney. As a halfback I wanted to play alongside him.

"That's just one of the things that comes with footy, that's one of the bad things about our sport.

"Hopefully the club can sort it out. But it's definitely not affecting him on the training field so I'm sure he'll be fine going into this year."

Reynolds's contract talks come as the NRL weighs up an overhaul of the transfer system, with set mid and post-season transfer windows being considered by an NRL working group involving club and RLPA representatives.

Several clubs have endorsed specific negotiation periods throughout the rugby league season but Cook urged caution around limiting players' timeframes to negotiate their futures.

Now the incumbent Australian and NSW Origin hooker, Cook's formative years were spent living on one-year deals at the Dragons, Canterbury and Rabbitohs, a scenario he says would be exacerbated for lower-tier players by transfer windows.

"For us players I don't think it's a good idea for a transfer window," Cook said.

"Personally I'd be against it. Talking about a player who might be off contract and you only give him a window to work with and he happens to cop a serious injury before that window, who's picking him up?

"It's a bit unfair on them. I know it can be frustrating for fans and clubs with players swapping sometimes but think about what a player's going through, trying to sort out their future and next thing that happens [they're injured], that can stop them getting signed the next year.

"It's a very nervous time. We are grateful that we get to play this great game, but a lot of us, that's all we might have.

"We try and play as long as we can and they're nervous times when you come off contract so to have that, being able to sign early, it just puts everyone at ease I guess."