Ben Hunt has revealed that the NRL’s most experienced halves pairing is set to reunite in time for the finals, with Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds closing in on a comeback.
Brisbane were rocked just weeks before finals footy with a devastating triple hamstring blow in round 23 against the Storm, sidelining Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo.
While scans ruled Mam and Cobbo long shots to feature again this year, Reynolds’ less severe setback gave hope for a faster return. He has been named on the extended bench for Saturday’s round 26 clash with the Cowboys. In Mam’s absence, Michael Maguire turned to Hunt to partner Reynolds in the halves.
Hunt confirmed that once Reynolds is fit, the duo will line up together again—if not this weekend, then by the first week of finals.
“Looking ahead, that’s probably the way we’re going, but nothing is locked in yet,” Hunt, who marked his 350th NRL appearance last week, told 4BC Breakfast.
“We’re not banking on Ezra returning this year. The chat has been that once the old fella shakes off his hamstring injury, he’ll slot straight back in and we’ll keep going like we did earlier in the season.”
Despite Reynolds’ inclusion in the extended squad, Hunt admitted he doesn’t expect him to feature against the Cowboys.
“I was a bit shocked to see his name there,” he said.
“To be honest, we didn’t have a big run on Tuesday—just recovery after the last game. Wednesday’s session will give us and Madge a clearer picture of where he’s at.”
The Broncos’ 2025 campaign has been anything but smooth, marked by a new coach, a heavy injury toll, and off-field distractions. Players have copped criticism from league legends, while Maguire has faced scrutiny for his handling of the squad.
Hunt concedes it’s been a “strange year,” but after seven seasons without finals, he is relishing the chance to be back in September football.
“I’ve missed a few years—it’ll be my eighth finals series. It’s exciting to be back,” Hunt said.
“This season has had its ups and downs, but we’ve secured a spot. With two games left, we want to finish strongly.
“There’s still talk of sneaking into the top four, but our focus is purely on the Cowboys this week and then the Storm.
“The Cowboys are in red-hot form, and they’ll be desperate to finish strong at home. It’s a real danger game, no doubt about it.”
