There are plenty of advantages to being “fossils”.
Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds are often ridiculed by their Brisbane teammates about their ages: they are both 34, have played a combined 621 NRL games and are recognised as the oldest halves pairing since Des Hasler and Cliff Lyons combined for Manly nearly 30 years ago.
But despite having seen almost everything in the game, Hunt and Reynolds were surprised by their on-field chemistry after just one training session at Red Hill at the start of the week.
Hunt churned through five halves partners in his final two years at St George Illawarra – Moses Mbye is the sixth if you include the 2023 Charity Shield pre-season clash – and says he is hopeful he can finally settle on a long-term partner in Reynolds.
They will have at least the first couple of months of the season together while Ezra Mam serves his nine-game cocaine ban. Hunt is also looking forward to sitting back and letting Reynolds run the show.
“We’re just a couple of old heads out there,” said Hunt, while attending a Channel Nine promotional shoot on Thursday.
“We’ve only had a couple of sessions together because Reyno was injured, but when we have been out there, everything is so clear, everything is so simple, and everyone knows their role when you have him on one side and me on the other. We’re both talking and organising. I just think there will be no confusion.
“I can take on more of a roaming role and play footy, and not worry as much about organising and getting our forwards around the park. I can leave that to the old fella. He can sort that out. I can go out and enjoy myself.”
Reynolds, who underwent minor neck surgery before Christmas – and will undergo scans on Friday in the hope he will be cleared to resume full contact – said of the Hunt relationship: “It just clicked. It felt so natural. When you’ve played so many games like we have, you know what works for you, you know what works for the guys around you.”
Coach Michael Maguire said of his mature-aged halves: “They’ve got smart minds, experience and they understand pressure in a game. They will keep evolving together.”
Hunt and Reynolds regularly dig into the defensive line and draw defenders, which will give fullback Reece Walsh every chance to sweep around the back and try to poke his nose through the defensive line.
Former Dragons skipper Hunt spent six years at the joint venture before being given an early release to return to his home state.
“In my heart I always wanted to go back home, even though we had some great times at the Dragons, and the Dragons were great to us,” he said.
“I’ve enjoyed the change. There are a lot of kids [at the Broncos] with a lot of energy who are pushing me to be better at training. I’m enjoying myself.”
The Broncos recruited Hunt and Maguire, and are top-four contenders based on the quality of their roster, which includes Walsh and Origin stars Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.
Meanwhile, Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs were in the mix for the Indigenous All Stars, but will not play.
Sydney Morning Herald
