Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds confirms he will play on after epic grand final victory over Melbourne Storm

Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds has ended the retirement rumours.

The veteran star was reminded of his battle-weary body during the NRL grand final on Sunday night when he pulled up sore with a calf issue at the 49th minute and was carried off the field.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Broncos sink Storm in NRL grand final.

But around 30 minutes later his mood was vastly different after he watched his team take down the Storm and claim the 2025 NRL premiership.

But if there were thoughts that the injury might hasten Reynolds’ retirement plans, he was quick to shut that talk down.

He walked rather awkwardly onto the dais and confirmed to fans that he would indeed be back in 2026.

“I just want to congratulate you (the Storm) on a fantastic season,” he said.

“You guys set the benchmark for so many years now, could have easily went your way tonight. Keep your heads high.”

He then added, “cant wait to run it back next year”, and said he was looking forward to another season at Brisbane.

During the week Reynolds’ teammates were stirring him about retiring if the Broncos won the flag.

And the sight of him being carried from the field and along the touchline was certainly a sad picture.

But all of that quickly changed after the victory.

Another Brisbane veteran, Ben Hunt, also watched the final moments of the grand final from the sidelines after being concussed with eight minutes to go.

And for him it was the ultimate redemption story, after his 2015 nightmare when he dropped the kick-off in golden-point extra-time during Brisbane’s 17-16 grand final loss to North Queensland.

“I’ve dreamt of this moment for the last 10 years. I really have,” he said after the game.

“It’s taken 350-plus games but it is all worth it. It really is. All the hard yards ... the family, friends and coaches that have put time into me over the years, it’s a little bit of repayment for them.

“I hadn’t thought too much about the redemption side of it. I just tried to focus on this game really but now that’s it is done and has sunk in, it is a weight off the shoulders.

“It’s OK for me to talk about the 2015 grand final now because we have moved on and got another one.

“When the siren went, it instantly hit me like a ton of bricks.”

Broncos coach Michael Maguire summed up the sentiments of the entire rugby league world about five-eighth Hunt’s title dream being finally realised.

“Benny Hunt in 2015 ... he had a tough moment in the grand final. To be able to give him a hug after that was a special moment because I know what players go through,” Maguire said.

“They get beaten up at times and the critics don’t miss them.

“To see a smile on his face and just sitting in the changing room with the players with just a grin from ear to ear, it’s bloody unreal.”

Hunt said his move to rejoin the Broncos where he made his debut, after linking with St George Illawarra for seven turbulent seasons, was “probably the best decision I ever made”.

Reynolds and Hunt hugged after full-time.

The two 35-year-olds came together in what Reynolds jokingly called “a nursing home” moment full of emotion.

“Ben deserves it probably more than anyone. He has been through his ups and downs,” Reynolds said.

“To see him get this moment at full-time and embrace him was certainly a career highlight.

“We have both been through a lot over the last couple of years and when he came back to the club it was all about trying to achieve this dream.”

- With AAP