Search

show me:

Bennett hails Reynolds as NRL super boot

3 minute read

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett says Adam Reynolds, who will play his 200th NRL game against Melbourne on Friday night, is the best goalkicker he's seen.

Coach WAYNE BENNETT talks to his players during the Brisbane Broncos NRL training session in Brisbane, Australia.
Coach WAYNE BENNETT talks to his players during the Brisbane Broncos NRL training session in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Wayne Bennett has seen a few goalkickers in his 850-plus matches as a coach but he hasn't seen better than his South Sydney captain Adam Reynolds.

The Rabbitohs veteran will become just the sixth player to play 200 games for Souths when he leads his troops into battle with Melbourne on Friday night at ANZ Stadium.

Reynolds' ability to deliver points under pressure has been key to Souths' top eight position, booting 50 points in their last four games alone with an 86 per cent success rate.

"He is up there with the absolute best; he's probably the best the game has ever seen," Bennett said of the 30-year-old.

"His exhibition there a couple of weeks ago was just unbelievable the way he kicked from the sideline.

"I think he is one of the all-time great kickers of the game."

Bennett will be hoping his halfback's luck against Melbourne turns, winning just two of 13 matches which is easily Reynolds' worst record against any team.

Indeed the veteran coach's record isn't much better, winning 10 from 36 games against Melbourne's Craig Bellamy, who has his team sitting second.

However the Rabbitohs are in a sweet spot, winning five straight and shutting out third-placed Parramatta 38-0 despite losing game-breaking fullback Latrell Mitchell to a season-ending injury in the second half.

"Things are still looking good if we all play well," Bennett said.

"Latrell is one of 17 players, and he is a wonderful player and a loss to us, but we've lost other players and someone else is taking their place and doing really well."

Bennett revealed centre Dane Gagai was in doubt with a hamstring injury while Corey Allan and Alex Johnston could swap between fullback and wing.

Johnston has been named in the No.1 jumper, but Allan spent time there through the week.

"Both of them are quite capable players in that (fullback) position," Bennett said.

"We could do a little bit of mixing and matching if he wanted to, but at this stage that is where we are going."

Bellamy said while everyone was aware of the Rabbitohs' potent backline, he believed their forward pack deserved credit.

"They don't get the room to put those shifts on that they do without the go-forward from their forwards," the Storm coach said.

"Tom Burgess and (Tevita) Tatola are really big guys and (Cameron) Murray is very effective at getting quick play the ball ... their forwards play a huge role in their attack and they've certainly been doing a good job."

The Storm have one player in doubt with Kenny Bromwich battling a calf issue.

STATS THAT MATTER

* Bellamy has the chance to beat Bennett in eight straight matches, which no coach has ever managed.

* These two teams have both scored 67 tries (4th most).

* Last week was the first time since their 2014 premiership-winning year that the Rabbitohs have held a team scoreless.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au