A wrestling session with former NRL enforcer Josh McGuire convinced Brisbane Broncos talisman Adam Reynolds he was ready to make his long-awaited return from a serious arm injury.
In his first game since suffering a torn biceps against the Roosters on May 3, the veteran playmaker combined with flying fullback Reece Walsh to inspire the Broncos to a 30-14 victory over Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday, ending Brisbane's six-game losing streak.
Wearing unfamiliar jersey numbers 24 and 20 respectively, Reynolds controlled the tempo and Walsh was at his elusive best, scoring a try and throwing the final pass for another two to suggest the 2023 runners-up are still capable of making a late run at the finals in the next seven weeks.
Reynolds applies the pressure
Speaking at the post-match media conference, Reynolds said he felt buoyant about playing against Newcastle after surviving a scuffle with McGuire, Brisbane's wrestling coach, last Monday.
"Probably [last] Sunday I was no chance," Reynolds explained.
"But I did a bit of contact work with Josh McGuire - he's a big boy - so to be thrown around by him, and to try and wrestle him, I got a bit of confidence out of that.
"Then I talked to the physios about trying to be named in the extended squad, and I was just excited to get back in there with the team.
"I've seen all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes and in games ..."
Reece Walsh Try
Desperate for a spark to lift team spirits during a losing skid stretching back to Magic Round, Brisbane coach Kevin Walters had an extra spring in his step after Reynolds broke the news.
"I knew when I saw him, it's the happiest I've been when he came in earlier in the week and said that he could be available this weekend," Walters said.
"My whole energy just rose, and the rest of the group did with him training. That's why we got him here.
"He's a leader. He's a great leader on the field, a great leader off the field, and I think that really showed tonight with him on the field, and the other guys just doing their jobs.
"That's what Adam brings to our team. It's like all the great halfbacks. That's what they bring."
Reynolds back in the saddle
Though he felt frustrated watching the Broncos struggle for results without him in the past two months, Reynolds felt no extra pressure to make an early from his injury.
"I was comfortable with playing this week," Reynolds said. "I wouldn't have been out there if I didn't think I could get through 80 minutes, or if I wasn't strong enough.
"I wasn't going to be selfish to just put myself out there on the field. I still need to do a job in the team, and I can't go out there at 50 or 80 per cent.
"I need to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability, to make the team function out there on the field.
"You always want to be out there with your team. The good times and the bad times, you ride that wave together.
"Sitting up in the coach's box with Kev, I loved that, but I'd rather be out on the field with my teammates in battle with them.
"It's a lot of hard work to get back there. The physios have worked over hours on me to get me back to this position, so I'm grateful for a lot of people to give me this opportunity."
After being well contained by NSW in the second and third games of the State of Origin series, Walsh looked far more dangerous against the Knights, running for 174 metres and making two line-breaks.
Walters said that performance would boost Walsh's confidence because "he's very hard to defend against when he gets moving, and that's the way he likes to play and that suits us".
Nothing but love from Reece
"Adam and Reece have got a really unique combination that only those two know," Walters said. "When they get on the field, they just know what each other is doing ...
"They're two of our best players, and they're back playing together. You talk to any of the clubs that have their two best players out, it makes it harder for everyone.
"But yeah, they're good together. Adam, with his style of play and the way he plays, really suits Reece and his style of play, so together, they're very dynamic."
Walsh wizardry
Though he looked battered and bruised at various stages of Queensland's 14-4 loss to NSW last Wednesday, Walsh was determined to push through the pain barrier and back up for the Broncos.
He said he felt more comfortable having Reynolds back on the field as it created more time and space for himself and fellow game-breaker Ezra Mam.
"It was a bit tough. I think the mental side of it was the biggest one for me," Walsh told reporters about how he felt after the Origin decider.
"The body was a bit sore, but I know I can push myself, and having the support of the team and the help from them, it was a big difference.
"Ren's a class player and it's the reason why he's the captain at our club. It was good to have him back tonight, and to free up a bit of space for me and Ez to go out there and just play what we see.
"His kicking game helps a lot. We're probably still a bit rusty there with some things and some calls, but it's been a long 12 weeks without Reyno so it was good to have him back."
Reynolds believed he would be better for the run against Newcastle, and is looking forward to further refining his combination with Walsh when the Broncos host the Bulldogs next Saturday.
"He's a competitor," Reynolds said of his fullback. "He loves playing football, he studies, he's a unique type of fella, and it's my job out there to keep a calming influence because he's hard to calm down at times.
"He sees a lot of things and tries to play a lot, which is great, because you'd rather have those players in your team than not. It's a combination we'll keep working on at training.
"It's a step in the right direction but we need to build on this performance and get better for next week."
