Ex-Super League star on the fringe of NRL return admits he might not make 30-man squad

Josh Reynolds left Hull FC in a cloud of disappointment and failed expectations after a tough transition to Super League but he’s back with his old club Canterbury Bulldogs and is reportedly loving life, despite his acknowledgement that he may not even make the 30-man squad for the 2023 season.

Reynolds had signed a two-year deal with Hull FC with an option for a third but just halfway through the second year of his deal the club and player split ways via mutual agreement.

What’s followed was the announcement in late October that Reynolds has returned to the club where he made his NRL debut and played for over half of his career.

Reynolds joined up on a train-and-trial deal where he is earning $1,000 a week and trying to force his way into the top 30 of the roster but Reynolds had told NRL.com that “life’s good” when talking about his return to the Belmore club.

“Life’s good. It’s the happiest I’ve ever been off the field with my new fiancé, and just being back home with my mates.

“I’m feeling a bit older in my brain but my body, it’s a bit tougher to recover, I’ve got to do everything right, and that’s not just coming off the field and throwing the boots in the locker room.

“It’s about the ice baths, stretching. I’ll be brutally honest, I didn’t do it enough when I was younger. It had a bit of an effect on the body when I did get older.”

Bulldogs head coach Cam Ciraldo had told James Graham on Graham’s podcast, The Bye Round, about the return of Reynolds and he was clearly very upbeat about having the man who bleeds blue and white back at the club.

“He grew up the area, he loves the Bulldogs so much. I’ve never seen anyone love a club so much, he’s so excited to be there every day. It’s hard to explain the way that he loves the club and the way that affects everyone around him.”

Despite that love for the club Ciraldo explained he was still outside the top 30 and having to earn a spot, something Reynolds has now spoken about as well.

“I want to play, that’s my priority but I also walk into the sheds and there’s 18-year-old kids training with us and I know how daunting that can be, to walk into a first grade team.

“It’s my 13th year in the NRL and any sort of tips I can give to those boys I’m happy to do that and if that’s the role that’s needed I’ll be OK with that.

“Hopefully I can have a little impact on the group in this pre-season and we’ll see what happens from there.”