Both the Rabbitohs and Panthers are facing injury concerns ahead of the grand final but one star says he will be ‘close to 100 per cent’.
South Sydney Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds is “pretty confident” he will recover from a minor groin injury in time to take on goalkicking duties for Sunday’s NRL grand final against Penrith.
In the preliminary final win over Manly, soreness forced Reynolds to hand the kicking tee to rookie fullback Blake Taaffe, who managed only four goals from seven attempts.
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But on Friday, Reynolds said he would be able to resume goalkicking for the decider.
“I trained with the team yesterday and got through that session pretty good,” he told reporters.
“I’ll get through the captain’s run tomorrow and do a bit of kicking and go from there.
“I’m pretty confident that I will be (goal kicking). I’ll do a few reps tomorrow and then I’ll know a bit more how it feels. Overall, I’m pretty happy with how (progressing from the groin injury) is going.
“I’ll be close to 100 per cent, if not 100.”
The Panthers shared positive injury news of their own on Friday.
While mid-season recruit Tevita Pangai Jr. had already been ruled out of the grand final, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary confirmed the remainder of his troops who had been in doubt – including Dylan Edwards, James Fisher-Harris, Brian To’o and Moses Leota – were likely to take the field.
Fisher-Harris, especially, had been considered a chance of missing the big dance after a leg injury looked to be giving him grief in last week’s upset win over Melbourne.
“All the boys will be there,” Cleary said.
“They’ve shown great resilience, our boys. I don’t think anything’s going to stop (Fisher-Harris) turning up and playing well on Sunday.”
Win or lose, the grand final will be both Reynolds’ last game in a Rabbitohs jersey and Bennett’s last as the side’s coach.
The halfback inked a three-year-deal with the Broncos in May, while Bennett is vacating the hot seat to make way for assistant coach Jason Demetriou.
On Friday, Bennett lauded Reynolds’ contribution to the Rabbitohs.
“I think we all know what (Reynolds) means to the club,” Bennett said.
“He’s played over 200 games, broken records for points scored and that type of stuff. It was a hard decision that was made this year (to let him go) and it’s worked out great because he’s handled it wonderfully.
“He’s got one more game to go and I’m sure he’s going to do the best he possibly can in that.”
Reynolds’ long-time halves partner, Cody Walker, said he hoped the Rabbitohs could send their captain and coach out as winners.
“(Reynolds) has been absolutely amazing,” Walker said.
“He’s been my halves partner ever since I came to the grade at 26. We played the majority of our footy together. We’re a bit of yin and yang. He loves that up-in-the-front type of footy and I like being in the back.
“It’s been a great partnership and we’ve got one more to go.”
“The way you repay his service and Wayne’s service and the guys who’re leaving is by going out there and doing your job as best you can for the team.”
The Rabbitohs are also preparing to farewell Knights-bound centre Dane Gagai, Jaydn Su’A, who has signed with the Dragons, and veteran Benji Marshall.
Marshall will turn 37 before the start of next season and is yet to formally announce his retirement, but Bennett insisted he would not be at Redfern in 2022.
“He won’t go another year at the Bunnies,” Bennett said.
The coach said the former Tiger would be remembered as a legend of the game.
“He’s had an incredible year and he was an incredible player. Still is.
“(As a coach) you watch games on weekends, you watch that much football that you don’t want to watch any more once your team plays, but I’d want to watch the Wests Tigers play because I enjoyed what he brought.”
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