There are plenty of advantages to being “fossils”.
Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds are often ridiculed by their Brisbane teammates about their ages: they are both 34, have played a combined 621 NRL games and are recognised as the oldest halves pairing since Des Hasler and Cliff Lyons combined for Manly nearly 30 years ago.
But despite having seen almost everything in the game, Hunt and Reynolds were surprised by their on-field chemistry after just one training session at Red Hill at the start of the week.
Hunt churned through five halves partners in his final two years at St George Illawarra – Moses Mbye is the sixth if you include the 2023 Charity Shield pre-season clash – and says he is hopeful he can finally settle on a long-term partner in Reynolds.
They will have at least the first couple of months of the season together while Ezra Mam serves his nine-game cocaine ban. Hunt is also looking forward to sitting back and letting Reynolds run the show.
Brisbane’s Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds had an instant connection.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
“We’re just a couple of old heads out there,” said Hunt, while attending a Channel Nine promotional shoot on Thursday.
“We’ve only had a couple of sessions together because Reyno was injured, but when we have been out there, everything is so clear, everything is so simple, and everyone knows their role when you have him on one side and me on the other. We’re both talking and organising. I just think there will be no confusion.
“I can take on more of a roaming role and play footy, and not worry as much about organising and getting our forwards around the park. I can leave that to the old fella. He can sort that out. I can go out and enjoy myself.”