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Souths' Reynolds should take deal: Coleman

3 minute read

South Sydney legend Craig Coleman has said Adam Reynolds should accept the one-year extension from the Rabbitohs, amid revelations of an NRL contract stalemate.

ADAM REYNOLDS of the Rabbitohs.
ADAM REYNOLDS of the Rabbitohs. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

South Sydney legend Craig Coleman claims Adam Reynolds should take up a one-year extension at the club, believing it won't necessarily have to shorten his stay.

Reynolds this week spoke out on his contract stalemate, revealing the Rabbitohs were only willing to offer him one year while he wanted three or four more.

The 30-year-old will finish as one of the Rabbitohs' greatest ever No.7s regardless of how negotiations end, already playing 206 NRL games for the club and winning a premiership.

Coleman was involved in Reynolds' rise, making him captain of Souths' SG Ball side when he one of the team's youngest teenagers.

"They have offered him a one-year extension, if I was him I would take it," Coleman told AAP.

"If you don't want to leave, you take it don't you?

"At the end of the day, Souths are going to be competitive if he is playing well, and if he is playing well they will re-sign him again.

"I don't think coming out in the press is going to force them to give him three years."

Coleman however understands as well anyone the position Reynolds is in, and wouldn't hold it against him if he left.

The club great was Souths' halfback for nine years before being tapped on the shoulder at age 29 and being told they couldn't afford to keep him.

But as a former Rabbitohs coach he can also understand the club's stance.

Souths had to endure a heavy financial loss from the career-ending injury to Sam Burgess in 2019 at age 30, before his final four-year deal had even begun.

Reynolds would also likely need to take a pay cut to stay, after re-signing on a big-money deal back in 2016.

Souths have had to upgrade the likes of Cameron Murray, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham in the last 15 months while also re-signing Latrell Mitchell.

"They're thinking you start getting injuries in your early 30s and you start to slow down," Coleman said.

"When you get to your early 30s they don't want to give you the big money unless you're Johnathan Thurston or Andrew Johns.

"He's been good to Souths for a long time and Souths have looked after him for a long time.

"We all want to be one-club players. I would have loved to have stayed at Souths, but I got pushed somewhere else.

"If there are clubs out there willing to give him three years and he wants that, then he can take the three years."

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