Reynolds’ return sees drums beating in Belmore again

Matt Burton has the kick and Josh Addo-Carr the chase but what Josh Reynolds brought to Accor Stadium, six years since he last donned the Bulldogs' blue and white jersey, is immeasurable.

A try to Addo-Carr in the last minute sent the game into golden point before a 30-metre Burton field goal sealed a remarkable 15-14 comeback but the roar that came when 33-year-old Reynolds returned to the fray is what had the drums beating from Homebush to Belmore on Sunday night. 

A favourite son of the club, the reception was loud and heartfelt from the stands with coach Cameron Ciraldo confirming what Canterbury fans believed, that Reynolds can make the Bulldogs "a better team".

Admitting he was “a bit nervy” in the hours leading up to his long-anticipated return on Sunday night, Reynolds had little time to soak up the moment his rugby league career came full circle in the 49th minute of Sunday's match, with Cameron Ciraldo's side trailing 8-6 after half-time.

"I was trying to tell myself that I wasn’t nervous but I wasn’t hungry one bit (yesterday) and I’m always hungry on game day," Reynolds said following the match.

"Deep down, in the back of my mind I knew I was a bit nervy. I think it was because I was coming off the bench too which is a bit foreign to me.

"I got up about six times and told to get ready. When they actually told me to, I thought nah this isn’t it so I was about to sit down but when they gave me the card, it was pretty cool.

"I obviously heard the crowd cheer me on when I got on there and to go out there and finish like that. It was a very special game to be a part of.

"I’m so proud of Burto, he nailed that moment. To miss the kick and then come back, I think an ex-great did that in a grand final once, JT (Thurston). It was just a great game to be a part of."

Having departed the Bulldogs in 2017 to join the Wests Tigers and then English Super League side Hull FC, the veteran playmaker said "it was a different beast" running in the forwards on Sunday night.

"My first tackle I got called offside and they went straight through so it wasn’t the greatest of starts," he said. 

"I actually gave the ref a bit of a…I wouldn’t call spray…but I said ‘come on mate, I’ve been out of the game for a thousand games, give me a break.’

"It’s completely different for me with the new position being in the middle. I’ve been trying to get a better understanding of it because Cirro has always said that could be a role that I’m going to play.

"The games and the refs are all about quickening it up in the ruck. Even the penalties, the boys are kicking them straight into touch, there’s no wrestling anymore.

"I’m not going to lie, I was blowing. It’s a different beast in the middle but the boys got me through."

With Ciraldo confirming fans can expect to see more of Reynolds in the coming weeks in replace of injured utility Fa'amanu Brown, the Bulldogs playmaker said it'll "be back to the drawing board" to prepare for his first Good Friday clash against South Sydney since 2017.

"There’ll be plenty for me to work on and I know that. I’ll go back and have a look and just constantly try and improve because as I said it’s not like I’m all around it like the halves," he said.

"It’s probably more my defence, having the big boppers on me constantly and working on that wrestle. I’ll get back to the drawing board tomorrow and get ready for a big Good Friday clash.

"We’ve had some cracking games against each other and I’m sure all the boys will want to get up for that one."