This is the inside story of how Souths dropped the ball with potentially two of the NRL’s biggest recruitment blunders in years.
But the manager of Adam Reynolds and Dane Gagai says his clients have “no regrets” after both were forced out the door, only to end up as prized recruits at rival clubs that have started this season unbeaten.
Respected agent Steve Gillis point blank refused to throw stones back at Souths when contacted, but conceded Reynolds was “extremely happy” in his new environment.
“While it was difficult to leave, he has no regrets,” Gillis said.
In Gagai’s case, Gillis added: “Dane is comfortable with his decision.
“He built some great friendships at Souths and I’m sure he misses the boys.
“But he is on a new journey and he enjoys playing a real leadership role with many of the younger players at the Knights.”
Reynolds was an instant smash hit in his first game for the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday night, with his calming influence getting the Broncos home in a cracking game against the rejuvenated Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, up in Newcastle, Gagai has been one of the competition’s standouts after back-to-back blinders that has left no one in any doubt what a world class centre he still is.
The other player Souths let go due to salary cap issues was Jaydn Su’A who is also going gangbusters at St George Illawarra
But back at Redfern anger among Bunnies’ fans has the potential to reach boiling point if they fall to bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
Last year’s grand finalists have kicked off the new season with back-to-back defeats, and after the Roosters their next game will be against premiers Penrith.
Already pressure is mounting on rookie halfback Lachlan Ilias while star five-eighth Cody Walker just looks out of sorts without Reynolds.
But there is no escaping from the reality that Souths’ management knew exactly what they were doing when they set this sliding door scenario in motion at the start of last year.
It’s no secret Souths made it abundantly clear at the very first meeting with Reynolds’ agent Gillis that the veteran halfback would only be offered a one-year extension.
Reynolds initially wanted three years but later said he would settle for two.
At no point was money even mentioned because the two parties could not get past the initial one-year clause, but there is little doubt Reynolds was more than willing to take less than the $800,000-a-season the Broncos are now paying him.
Those close to Reynolds were also hurt at accusations that made it into the public forum that Reynolds’ ageing body was packing it in, and that he couldn’t handle contact at training let alone another three years because of a chronic back injury.
Yet the fact is Wayne Bennett blasted that accusation at the time, and privately Bennett was convinced Reynolds had heaps of good footy left in him.
But given Bennett was on his last year coaching Souths, the decision was taken out of his hands.
Everyone from the board to the chief executive Blake Solly, new coach Jason Demetriou and the medical staff would have all had some input in the decision.
Yet the Rabbitohs were also convinced Ilias was more than ready to step up to the plate.
Only last week Reynolds conceded ahead of his first game for the Broncos that he had felt unloved in his final season at Souths.
But if it ends up that they don’t make the eight this year, someone is going to have to be held accountable.
It is simply mind-blowing to most on the outside that the Rabbitohs just couldn’t find a way to fit Reynolds’ into a $9.6 million salary cap, regardless of who they had to let go to keep him.
Asked what Reynolds’ initial reaction was when first told Souths would only offer him a one-year extension, Gillis was very matter-of-fact: “I sat him down and told him (the offer) was one year and he said, ‘righto, let’s get on with this’.”
In Gagai’s case, the offer was also a modest one-year extension estimated at about $400,000, before the Queensland Origin star ultimately took up a three-year deal at the Knights worth in the vicinity of $500,000-a-year.
In Gagai’s place at Souths, Jaxson Paulo is also struggling and against Melbourne was eventually moved from left centre to right wing during the match with his confidence clearly shattered.”
