LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Adam Reynolds' departure from South Sydney Rabbitohs to join the Brisbane Broncos in 2022 continues to haunt his former club, especially after the recent axing of young halfback Lachlan Ilias.
The decision to let Reynolds go now appears even more misguided, with Ilias' NRL exit serving as further evidence of the Rabbitohs' misstep.
Reynolds, a Souths stalwart of 10 seasons, felt slighted by the club after being offered just a one-year contract extension, prompting his move to the Broncos.
The Rabbitohs were hesitant to block Ilias' path to the first grade, viewing the young playmaker as their future and expressing concerns about Reynolds' durability.
After leading the Broncos to the grand final last year, Reynolds' impact was undeniable, despite falling short of claiming the championship.
Meanwhile, Ilias struggled to make his mark in the Rabbitohs' lineup, facing challenges in a team filled with strong personalities such as Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
South Sydney's failure to make the finals last season, despite a strong start, only adds to the regret over losing Reynolds.
In the game of Rugby League, decisions like these can have lasting repercussions, and Souths may come to rue the day they let Reynolds walk away.