NRL icon Brad Fittler has endorsed the choice for Adam Reynolds to forgo a farewell match, emphasizing that team objectives take precedence over individual desires. Reynolds announced earlier this week that he is retiring immediately and will not participate in future games.
Initially, the Broncos captain expressed dissatisfaction with this decision, indicating it wasn't made by him. However, he later reaffirmed that the choice was indeed his, not influenced by Broncos coach Michael Maguire.
Many in the NRL community find it difficult to understand why Reynolds won't have a farewell appearance on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium against the Melbourne Storm, a game without significant stakes. Yet, Fittler believes this is the correct approach.
"Team first, always," Fittler stated on the 'Six Tackles with Gus' podcast on Wednesday. "The club is always bigger than the player. If the coach feels like he wants to do it, then he's putting the player before the team. At the end of the day, Adam has come out and said it was his decision. the game has become so much about the player... but the team is always first and it's jersey before the player."
Fittler asserted that fans will remember Reynolds for his championship victories in 2014 with Souths and 2025 with the Broncos, rather than for a fleeting 20-minute appearance. "All the talk about whether Reyno should have had another game - I don't care, the team always comes first," he remarked.
"The thing he will be remembered for is he scored the second most points in the game. That's unbelievable. For a bloke who came through all different stages and changes of the game… he mastered it all. He's always just been clever and calm; he was always calm. Whenever you watch Adam Reynolds' face during a game… he just had this really calm demeanor. He's been an incredible player."
In contrast, Andrew Johns took a different stance, suggesting, "I think he should play, give him five or 10 minutes," on the 'Freddy and the Eighth' podcast.