Adam Reynolds Endorses Patrick Carrigan as Future Broncos Captain
Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds has publicly supported his teammate Patrick Carrigan as the ideal successor to take over as captain of the Broncos when he retires at the end of the year. Reynolds made the announcement over the weekend, confirming that the upcoming season will be his final one in the NRL. This news comes as a blow to the club’s fans, especially after Payne Haas agreed to join Souths in 2027.
Reynolds is one of only four Broncos captains to have won the NRL premiership, having led the team to grand final glory last season. His legacy is further solidified by a previous title with Souths, making him one of the few players to have captained both teams to victory. He now joins an elite group of Broncos legends, including Allan Langer (1992-93 and 1997-98), Kevin Walters (2000), and Darren Lockyer (2006), who have all led the club to premiership success.
The 35-year-old Reynolds believes Carrigan is the logical choice to succeed him long-term, citing his strong leadership during Reynolds’ absences. Carrigan also served as co-captain during the Broncos’ wooden spoon season in 2020, when regular skipper Alex Glenn was sidelined due to injury. His performance during that challenging period showcased his character and leadership, making him a key player under coach Michael Maguire.
While Carrigan is considered the top contender for the captaincy, veteran centre Kotoni Staggs is also seen as a potential candidate. However, Reynolds remains firm in his support for Carrigan, stating:
“He’s done a lot of great things for this club and he’s stood in a number of times. Obviously when I’m not there, he’s the next man up, and he’s a big part of the fabric of this club. He’s been here for a very long time and I see him as an extremely important leader amongst our team as well, so it’s a good headache to manage that. We’ve got a number of leaders in the club that could lead the team out, but he’d be my pick.”
Carrigan Focuses on Performance, Not Captaincy
Despite Reynolds’ endorsement, Carrigan has made it clear that his primary focus is on delivering consistent performances for the club rather than the captaincy. The Origin and Test star has already played 130 games for the Broncos and is signed with the team until the end of 2028.
“I’ve always been a big believer in just being myself and trying to uphold that each and every day and perform at a standard I’m proud of and the club can be proud of too,” Carrigan said. “I’m really lucky at this club. There’s plenty of boys that are more than capable of leading us into the future, and I think we’re in a good position.”
However, Carrigan admits that if he were to become the Broncos’ captain, it would be one of the proudest moments of his career. “It’ll be massive,” he said. “Each and every day you’re learning and you’re growing as a person, not only as a footy player. I’ve taken plenty of lessons, ups and downs, over the last eight or nine years that I’ve been in the club. They’re all hypotheticals and what-ifs and I don’t really read too much into those sort of things. I’m loving what I’m doing at the moment and playing with this group of lads.”
