The Broncos halfback was a surprise inclusion on the extended bench for this weekend’s clash with the Knights.

Adam Reynolds, a halfback, was named by Brisbane in the No. 24 jersey for the Broncos’ crucial game against the Knights on Tuesday, shocking the whole NRL community. After leaving the pitch in Round 9 due to a bicep injury, Reynolds has not played for the Broncos. It was anticipated that the Brisbane No. 7 would take at least two weeks to recover.

The Broncos find themselves in a dire situation needing to win six of their last seven games to make NRL finals, in what has been a disappointing season to date. Reynolds was a huge reason why the Broncos made the 2023 grand final, with his experienced head helping to guide the young team around the park. And the Broncos have struggled without their chief playmaker in 2024 as they sit outside the top eight on 18 points.

His inclusion on the extended bench for Round 20 caught the attention of fans right away, and it was later announced that he will make an early comeback versus the Knights. However, that was in response to an odd assertion made by assistant coach Matt Ballin on his selection.

Channel 9 commentator Peter Psaltis said Ballin told him Reynolds being named was solely done so they had enough players to make up the required team list numbers. “I asked Matt Ballin about Adam Reynolds being named on the Broncos bench for Saturday night’s game against the Knights,” Psaltis wrote on social media. “He said they were running out of players and put his name down to fill the allotted spots on the bench. Said he’s 2 weeks away from a return.”