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‘Backflip under duress’: Broncos blasted for ‘making Reynolds clean up’ messy final-game saga Adam Reynolds has been accused of performing a backflip “under duress” after he tried to hose down talk of a rift between himself and Michael Maguire following his decision to retire. 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. The Broncos captain fronted the media on Tuesday afternoon to say it was his decision to hang up the boots with two games to go. Less than 24 hours earlier, however, Reynolds appeared on NRL 360 to tell the panel his non-selection for the Storm game was “news to me”. He said he felt he was fit to play a farewell game in front of his home fans, but the coach didn’t select him after medical staff were worried about his ability to finish the game. He told Code Sports: “Yes, I was keen to play.” But on Tuesday he said the situation was “blown out of proportion” and that he felt criticism of Maguire was unwarranted. Tuesday night’s NRL 360 panel, led by host Braith Anasta, were stunned to hear of the veteran’s change of heart. “Hang on, what’s going on here? I’m a bit confused by this. After last night being on the show and interviewing him, after he announced his retirement, things have changed quite quickly. A lot of flipping and flopping,” Anasta said. Journalist Paul Crawley felt sorry for Reynolds as he tried to clear up the mess. “It’s embarrassing and it’s sad for Adam. He got on the show last night and he said what he said. And when he said it, he was trying to be diplomatic, but he spoke from the heart,” Crawley said. “When you asked him last night about the decision that he wasn’t going to play, he said, ‘yeah, it was news to me too’. “Gordie (Tallis) asked him a question about would you be happy to come on and just play 20 minutes? He said, ‘yeah, yeah, I would have been happy with that’. “And then we get this today, and you’ve got to wonder what’s gone on behind closed doors at the Broncos to make their skipper, their retiring skipper, a guy that’s played in two grand finals for the club, took him to a premiership…what has forced him to do this Olympic backflip?” 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 Fellow journalist David Riccio pointed to Ben Hunt’s radio interview on Tuesday morning where he revealed he and the players were “shocked” when told Reynolds wouldn’t get a farewell game. Riccio, like Crawley, didn’t blame Reynolds for his updated version of events. “Adam, and not to his detriment, should be with the Australian diving team, such is the backflip that he’s performed, I believe under duress,” Riccio said. “He currently has an offer to hold a coaching position working with the spine next year. There’s no doubt in the world he’s had to clean this up to save face on behalf of others at the football club by doing that press conference today. “The Broncos might think that they can fool the public, but they can’t fool the playing group. The playing group know the real reason he’s not playing. Ultimately the coaching staff don’t want him to play, are either are too desperate to go and get this victory, and against the Melbourne Storm.” Crawley again laid the boot into the way the Broncos handled the situation, and accused them of muzzling their skipper in the final days of his playing career. “They haven’t given Adam the respect here. He’s the club captain, and even if he doesn’t agree with their decisions, he’s entitled to give his piece,” Crawley said. “He’s had to stand there and embarrass himself after everything that he spoke about on the show last night, and he was only speaking from the heart.” Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said he was stunned that the club thought it could get Reynolds to front the media and smooth things over and that it would be accepted. Tallis referred back to the Reynolds interview on NRL 360 the night earlier. “He looked like he was angry, or a little bit upset that he didn’t get the chance to go out the way that he wanted to,” Tallis said.