How Wayne Bennett Helped Save Adam Reynolds’ Marriage—and the Souths Exit That Still Stings
In a revealing new interview, Brisbane Broncos star Adam Reynolds has spoken candidly about the deeply personal and professional crossroads he faced in 2020—and how legendary coach Wayne Bennett helped guide him through both. From nearly losing his marriage to feeling pushed out of the club he loved, Reynolds’ emotional reflections offer insight into the immense role Bennett played in both his life and career, as well as the lingering bitterness over his departure from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
This Friday night, Reynolds will face his former club and coach when the Broncos take on the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium. It’s a matchup heavy with emotional weight—especially for Reynolds, who once imagined finishing his career as a one-club player at Souths.
But before we delve into the messy exit that led Reynolds to Brisbane, it’s his personal crisis off the field that underscores just how important Wayne Bennett became to him—well beyond the football pitch.
“He Saved It”: Bennett’s Personal Intervention
Speaking on the Inside Ball podcast, co-hosted by former Broncos coach Kevin Walters, Reynolds opened up about a tumultuous period in his personal life during 2020. His marriage to wife Tallara was under severe strain, and despite being a professional athlete known for his composure and focus, Reynolds admitted things had reached a breaking point.
“It was a really tough part of my life,” Reynolds said. “One thing I have been good at is parking my emotions to the side and focusing on what I need to at the time. But if I didn’t have that guidance from Wayne, I don’t know where I’d be. He saved it [my marriage].”
Bennett, then coaching South Sydney, saw something was off—even though Reynolds wasn’t showing many visible signs. Known across the NRL as one of the most emotionally intelligent figures in the sport, Bennett sensed the struggle and took action.
“He’s very good at reading the room,” Reynolds explained. “I probably wasn’t giving out too much, and he dragged me aside one day and checked in on me.”
That single conversation was the beginning of a crucial support system that Bennett put in place for his player. “I opened up to Wayne because he gets the trust of the person,” Reynolds continued. “He gave me guidance and regularly checked in to see what’s going on.”
Bennett’s mentorship went far beyond tactics and team strategy. For Reynolds, it was life-changing.
A Shocking Exit From Souths
While the support from Bennett brought personal clarity, Reynolds’ professional life soon became clouded. Despite being the long-time face of the Rabbitohs, a premiership winner in 2014, and a local junior who had supported Souths his entire life, the club began to pull away.
After 10 seasons in Redfern, Reynolds was ready to sign on for two more years. But when contract negotiations began in 2021, things quickly soured.
“It was frustrating through that time because all you want to do is stay at the club and finish your career there,” Reynolds said.
But Souths came to the table with an offer that felt like a slap in the face—half his previous salary and just a one-year extension. “We couldn’t get to an agreement there,” Reynolds said.
Adding salt to the wound, negative rumors began circulating in the media, questioning Reynolds’ durability and fitness. He still isn’t sure if the leaks came from within the club, but their timing and tone left him bitter.
“Things started getting leaked in the media that I couldn’t train, my body wasn’t well, this and that,” he said. “Whether it was them or not, I don’t know—but it sort of ticked me off a bit.”
For a player who had given so much to the club—on and off the field—it was a crushing way to be shown the door.
Brisbane’s Perfect Timing
As the Rabbitohs fumbled their handling of a club legend, other teams sensed an opportunity. The Cronulla Sharks appeared to be front-runners to sign Reynolds—until the Brisbane Broncos swooped in with a heartfelt gesture that made all the difference.
“Dave Donaghy [Broncos CEO] and Kev [Walters] flew down, came to my house, and presented me with this jersey,” Reynolds recalled.
That simple yet powerful moment stirred something in him.
“I remember looking at it and thinking how much I admired the Broncos and Allan Langer from afar. It was nice that they felt they could trust me to go and do the job for them and their organisation. That jersey moment was a good little touch that won me over.”
Soon after, Reynolds inked a three-year deal with Brisbane starting in 2022. Despite how his South Sydney chapter ended, he says he’s found peace in his new home.
A Full-Circle Moment at Suncorp
This Friday night, the script writes itself: Reynolds versus South Sydney. Reynolds versus Wayne Bennett. But unlike most showdowns, there’s no animosity—only deep respect between the coach and player whose bond now extends far beyond rugby league.
Reynolds knows the media and fans will be watching closely. Yet for him, it’s less about proving anything to the Rabbitohs and more about celebrating how far he’s come—on the field, in his career, and especially in his personal life.
Bennett may have once coached against Reynolds, then coached him, and now will coach against him again. But for Reynolds, Bennett’s role in his life can never be boiled down to wins and losses.
He was the coach who stepped in when no one else noticed. The mentor who listened. The man who helped him piece back together a part of his life that was falling apart.
And even as Reynolds continues to make his mark with the Broncos, he carries that lesson with him every time he steps onto the field.
Because sometimes, a coach doesn’t just build better players—he saves marriages, restores confidence, and proves his influence doesn’t end at the sideline.
