Adam Reynolds re-injures hamstring, won’t play rest of NRL regular season

A fresh aggravation of Adam Reynolds’ hamstring has reinforced how important the versatility of Billy Walters is for Brisbane’s NRL finals hopes.

Reynolds re-injured the hamstring he tore against the Storm in round 23 while training on Wednesday afternoon at Red Hill. AAP has been told he will have further tests on Friday to determine the extent of the injury.

The skipper was in the 22 for the away clash with North Queensland on Saturday night but it is understood he was not going to play anyway. The fifth-placed Broncos have released a statement saying that he will now not travel to Townsville.

He is unlikely to play for the rest of the regular season but is hopeful for week one of the finals.

It is a huge blow for the Broncos as they target a top-four spot and wins over the Cowboys and then Melbourne at home.

Veteran Ben Hunt is the man tasked with continuing to fill Reynolds’ shoes at No.7 while Walters, who will play five-eighth, is critical to the team’s hopes with regular No.6 Ezra Mam also unavailable with a hamstring injury, possibly for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old Walters was brought to the Broncos by his father and former coach Kevin Walters to play in the halves. The emergence of Mam led to Walters making the hooker role his own, although he has also been utilised off the bench by coach Michael Maguire this year.

Now the ultimate team man is putting up his hand to play No.6 where he learned his trade at Melbourne and Wests Tigers.

“It’s challenged me and brought out my best footy, I can’t rely on the last name and just expect to be put in the team,” Walters said.

“I’ve had to work for everything I’ve got and Madge (Maguire) coming in was something a bit different.

“I had to work for it again and Madge has seen me in a different way with my role in the team, that’s not a bad thing, it’s something different.

“I know it’s cliche, but I just love playing at this club and if that means coming off the bench, or playing six or playing fullback, I will put my hand up and do it.

“I won’t kick stones if I’m not playing a position I prefer to play.”

Walters said he learnt plenty off Storm No.6 Cameron Munster and former Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall about playing in the halves.

“The biggest thing is just running the ball,” Walters said.

“They are great runners of the ball, they love throwing dummies and they seem to keep getting defenders every week.

“It just proves if you keep running the ball and keep taking the line on, then good things will happen.

“Benji is a lot faster than me and Munster is a lot stronger than me, but I will keep finding a way to take the line on.“If I’m being honest, my favourite position is probably nine, but I love playing in the halves as well, so whatever the dynamic of the team has to be.”