SouthSydney ... star Adam Reynolds prepares for an Origin-like audition against Brisbane. Source: News Limited
He trails only Cooper Cronk as the NRL's form halfback and a star performance from Adam Reynolds against a Maroons-laden Broncos this Friday night could order him a debut Origin cap.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs star continues to increase his hype and despite being just 22 years old is yapping at the heels of incumbent Blues half Mitchell Pearce.
In the areas that a halfback should justify his pay-cheque on, Reynolds shines.
Fox Sports Stats reveal Reynolds is one of the best kickers in the competition this season and ranks second in try-assists with eight, equal with Storm's Cronk and ahead of Pearce.
Reynolds has forced 12 drop-goal restarts in seven games, nine in the last four rounds, nearly double the next best Johnathan Thurston.
For comparison, the Broncos halves pairing of Peter Wallace and Scott Prince have nine forced re-starts between them.
Reynolds averages 339 metres per game with his prodigious boot and is a strong tackler, making 21 per hits per game and missing just 2.3.
Reynolds' 105kg halves partner John Sutton is not nearly as creative but has been brutal with his running game, averaging 101 metres per match, twice as many as Prince and Wallace combined.
While the Rabbitohs' halves are statistically dominant over their Broncos rivals, Wallace and Prince do not have the same opportunities as the club relies more on their outside backs to set up tries and hooker Andrew McCullough contributes heavily to their kicking game.
Reynolds' representative debut came last week for City against Country, where his right foot featured prominently again.
Reynolds reeled off 40-20s either side of half-time and scored a neat individual try from a grubber.
The Broncos team he will line up against in front of 40,000 at Suncorp Stadium will likely feature five players in Queensland's first State of Origin team this year (Sam Thaiday, Justin Hodges, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant and Matt Gillett).
If he impresses against that line-up it will be difficult for rookie Blues coach Laurie Daley to ignore him.
Daley has publicly backed Pearce for the No.7 role but has given no indications on his bench utility and Reynolds could play hooker as he is a strong defender with a crisp pass.
Daley was sold on Reynolds following his performance for City.
"I probably wasn't sure (about Reynolds) before the game,'' Daley said.
"It's good to know that in such a short period of time he's stepped up.
"Adam just needs to continue to develop and he's doing a good job at that. He hasn't been disheartened by the fact Mitchell will be the halfback."
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