Adam Reynolds celebrates with Rabbitohs fans after starring in the 2014 grand final victory.Credit:NRL Photos
Reynolds is now expected to test the market as protracted negotiations threaten to become a distraction in the Rabbitohs'quest for a premiership in coach Wayne Bennett's final year at the club.
While Reynolds has dropped his demands from a three-year deal to a two-year deal,the Rabbitohs are adamant only a one-year extension will be put on the table for the 30-year-old,who is off contract at the end of this season.
The club has reiterated to Reynolds’ manager it would be happy to revisit another extension in 12 months’ time and move players on if necessary,but doesn’t want to commit long term at the risk of crippling the club’s salary cap if things didn’t work out with the playmaker.
Reynolds'camp has also taken exception to aSydney Morning Herald story written on Monday,in which it was revealed the Cowboys had discovered the halfback has been on restricted training duties since fracturing his vertebrae in 2019.
Adam Reynolds in a rehab bib at training on Monday. The pink bib signifies to teammates that he is a non-contact participant in training.Credit:Nine News
The Reynolds camp told Nine News that the disclosure was a case of dirty tricks from South Sydney trying to have an impact on his value,even though Reynolds was spotted wearing a non-contact rehab bib at training on Monday.
It was also revealed that the Rabbitohs had more contracted players for 2023 than any other club,and would have only about $2 million to spend on 16 players if the contracts of Reynolds and Cody Walker were extended for another two years. That would leave the club with a per-player average of just $125,000 to spend on the remaining squad.