Hull’s star signing Josh Reynolds just wants to play regular rugby again

HAVING played just 22 NRL games in three seasons, it should be no surprise former State of Origin star Josh Reynolds is looking forward to life in Hull, even starting out, as he is, amid a national lockdown.

Granted, the Humber Bridge in January certainly offers a distinctly different backdrop to Sydney Harbour Bridge.

However, the chance to revitalise his career has left the Australian half-back admitting feeling as “fresh” as he has ever done.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reynolds, 31, was a star of the Australian game during his time with Canterbury Bulldogs, peaking perhaps operating as New South Wales’ stand-off when they ended Queensland’s eight-year Origin winning streak in 2014.

Fresh start: Hull FC's new signing Josh Reynolds. Picture: Hull FCFresh start: Hull FC's new signing Josh Reynolds. Picture: Hull FC
Fresh start: Hull FC's new signing Josh Reynolds. Picture: Hull FC

He also played in the Grand Final that year – a second of his burgeoning career – but, for one reason or another, a 2018 move to Wests Tigers did not work out.

Whether down to injuries or form, Reynolds simply could not recapture his best but he is now firmly intent on doing that in the Black and White of Hull.

Now a month into pre-season ahead of the March 25 kick-off, he also believes he will “appreciate” the sport more having moved to the UK on a two-year deal.

“That’s definitely so,” Reynolds admitted.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s not a great feeling to not be playing, whether injured or not to be picked in the team.

“You want to be playing. That’s why we do it. That’s what I want to find. I just want to play some consistent footy (with Hull), week in week out, stay injury free and winning obviously will help, too.

“It’s a massive thing for me just building some games, finding my feet and getting back the love of the game I’ve always had.

“I’ve not played much for the last couple of years.

“People say I’ve got that ‘injury prone’ tag and that’s fair enough.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But having said that, last year, even though I wasn’t playing, we were training really hard, getting touched up every week and still going up against the first-grade boys.

“I’ve come over and I do feel really good. And challenged.”

Nicknamed ‘Grub’ in Sydney for some of his questionable on-field actions, he might start giving new team-mate Jake Connor – renowned for being able to wind-up Super League opponents – a run for his money in that department.

Asked if the nickname had stuck with his new colleagues, Reynolds replied: “It’s slowly coming in.

“I think at the start everyone was a bit nervous to say it but it is now. When they asked me if I minded I said ‘no… it’s true anyway!’”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On a serious note, being away from the glare of the Australian media is something which the mercurial half-back believes will help him be able to bring his best to the East Yorkshire club.

“Back home it is full on,” conceded Reynolds.

“But the football over here is the number one sport and I see them always in the headlines.

“To not be fully in the spotlight is good. I do like that. It’s not as full-on as back home and I prefer that for sure.”

New Hull chief Brett Hodgson knows just what Reynolds can bring to his side; he was assistant coach at Wests before signing up at KCOM Stadium in November, quickly making the gifted playmaker his first and only signing so far.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The hope is that Reynolds –who essentially replaces Albert Kelly at Hull – will dovetail with double-Lance Todd Trophy winner Marc Sneyd in the halves and give them the direction and leadership required to finally deliver a maiden Super League title.

Although the Sydney-born player managed just 10 outings for Wests last season, he does not envisage that meaning he will take his time to find his best in the competition here.

“I hope not; that’s what pre-season’s for,” replied Reynolds, whose stellar kicking game allied to Sneyd’s quality boot should give them a plethora of options in that aspect of the game.

“And it’s a bit of a different one for me now. The last three or four years you go up against someone week in, week out and don’t get put in the team; it’s a little bit harder.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But with Sneydy and a few other boys here I’m just looking to form combinations now and work on what I do well.

“I won’t try and set the world on fire and come up with the big play all the time.

“I just want to get back to doing the little things right and when I am doing that, that’s when I play my best footy. The conditions here are a bit wetter than back home so it just means kicks to the corner and forcing the errors.

“That’s a part of my game I can bring to the team.

“If we get it right we’ll be amongst the top teams.

“But we have to work on our combinations and make sure we get it right before round one.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over the years, before Kelly clearly made his mark, Hull have had a litany of Australian half-backs who struggled to have any sort of positive impact.

You sense the colourful Reynolds – who insists he does not have a point to prove to anyone aside from his new team-mates – will not be one of them.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.