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‘I feel for Madge’: Reynolds’ big backflip after final game snub claims and Broncos furore Departing Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds insists it was his call to hang up the boots with two games to go while defending Michael Maguire’s role in his non-selection this week. On Monday, Reynolds completed a training session and got through it unscathed and felt he was fit to play in Thursday night’s match against the Storm at Suncorp Stadium. Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. He claimed he was told by Maguire that he wouldn’t be picked after the Brisbane medical team raised concerns about his ability to complete the game after coming back from a calf injury. Reynolds, at the time, felt he was fit enough to take the field and play one last game in front of Broncos fans telling Code Sports “yes, I was keen to play”. On Tuesday afternoon he told the media at a press conference that the situation was “blown out of proportion” and defended Maguire, who many said was out of line in not letting Reynolds go out on his terms. “I just think it’s unfair to blame Madge,” Reynolds said. “There was a conversation that we had on the field and we went over it with the medical staff, and those suggestions around my body, and ultimately at the end of the day it was my decision to call time. “I thought it was the right time to do it. Everything’s been blown out of proportion and I feel for Madge.” The man playing halfback this week, Ben Hunt, said earlier on Tuesday that he was stunned that Reynolds wasn’t allowed to play one final game, saying he deserved it. “We’re all pretty shocked to be fair. We knew how hard he’s been pushing the last few weeks and seeing him train out there and get through that full session, we thought for sure he was going to get another run-around,” Hunt said. “He wanted to get out there and from what I’m gauging most of the players are pretty disappointed too. We thought he deserved that send-off.” MORE NRL NEWS TALKING PTS: ‘Disgusting joke’ could ruin Dogs’ future; major Cleary dilemma CRAWLS: How masterstroke signing fixed big Warriors issue; forgotten hero in all-time boilover Reynolds said he felt bad that his teammates heard “filtered” messages about the situation through the media and conceded he should have told them in person. “I’m extremely grateful for my teammates and their support,” he said. “It’s good to know that you’re loved and they want to see you back out there on the field, but ultimately at the end of the day it was my call.” Reynolds was asked about the mixed messaging the media and public received regarding his thoughts on his non-selection. He blamed it on a chaotic day. “It was all a bit of a rush yesterday to be honest. We’d finished the gym and I had a quick conversation with Madge and the medical staff, then they had to run off to a board meeting and I had to get off to Triple M fairly quickly, so there wasn’t a lot of time to filter things through,” Reynolds said. “I was pretty emotional at the time as well. Obviously, there’s no blueprint on how you go about your business when you retire, so it’s probably a lesson for myself. “The way that Madge has been blamed for it all, it was my choice to call time. It’s been perceived as though it was Madge’s call.” Reynolds and Maguire go way back, having won a premiership together at Souths in 2014. They also helped orchestrate another drought-breaking title at Brisbane last year. “There’s probably no better relationship in sport than myself and Madge,” Reynolds said. “The time we’ve had across two clubs, both on and off the field, I would hate to see that friendship there diminish. There’s a lot of respect among both of us and that friendship will continue going forward.” Reynolds will still get to farewell the Broncos fans on Thursday night, and while it wasn’t the plan to do so from the sidelines, he’s accepted it while declaring Brisbane was home and he and his family would continue to live there. “I’m extremely grateful. I still get to go out there and thank our fans. They’ve been pretty overwhelming to be honest. Coming up from Sydney, they were super grateful towards me and my family,” he said. When it was suggested he could at least sit on the bench in Broncos colours and maybe get a short cameo, Reynolds shut that thought down quickly. “That wouldn’t have satisfied me though. I want to play 80 minutes, I want to get out there and unfortunately I’m not at 100 per cent and I don’t want to go out there and let my teammates down,” he said. “I knew this day was coming. It was going to be either this week, or next week. I’m extremely grateful and honoured to have played 15 years in this game.”