South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds has spent time training at hooker as the Rabbitohs try to solve their halves jigsaw puzzle.
South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has hatched multiple contingency plans as the torment from Reynolds’ torn hamstring in the 2012 grand final qualifier against Canterbury still lingers. Back then, the Rabbitohs were lost without their No.7 and eventually blew an 8-4 lead to be knocked out of the competition.
A possible shift for Reynolds follows the continuing emergence of Luke Keary. Keary relegated Reynolds to the interchange bench when the match was in the balance with 16 minutes remaining against Parramatta last Friday.
Maguire has since said he has settled on John Sutton being the club’s five-eighth meaning Keary and Reynolds will jostle for a position.
Keary’s spot on the interchange bench has also resulted in back-up hooker Apisai Koroisau being axed from the top squad, leaving Issac Luke to play 80 minutes at dummy half. Luke can relate to Reynolds’ situation. For much of his career Luke has floated between his desire to be an 80 minute player while being forced to share the hooking duties.
Luke said Maguire had not indicated whose game time would be cut with Keary on the bench.
“We have three great halves,” Luke said. “You have to give them all a shot. We are happy with how all of them are going.
“If [someone goes off] it happens. It could be the same with me going off. We just have to deal with it how it goes.
“Adam had a little run at hooker and he’ll go great. Whoever Madge throws out there will go great. [Reynolds] has been in and out [of hooker] throughout the whole year. I don’t mind coming off the field for him.
“Luke adds another dimension to our attack and our defence. He is a great asset.”
The experiment is set to continue as Keary starts from the interchange bench when Canberra play South Sydney on Monday night.
Teammate George Burgess said there was little surprise in Maguire’s decision.
“I see it every week at training,” Burgess said. “They are always swapping around and mixing it up. It was a rest for Adam. Keary did great when he came on. It was good for the team.
“Adam has been sweet. It’s not affected him at all. I’m not sure why people are making such a big deal out of it it.
“We see it every week at training. It’s a bit of a luxury that not many teams have.”
Meanwhile, Luke celebrated his return from injury in recent weeks by purchasing his first family home.
Luke said it was a proud moment for him considering his humble beginnings in Hawera, New Zealand.
“I have a family home for my wife and kids,” Luke said. “I rang my grandmother. What she had to go through with a lot of the grandchildren with me especially [was a lot].
“My wife is really happy. It’s all for them. I play football, she does the rest.”
