In another lifetime, he steered Canterbury to two grand finals and helped NSW break an eight-year Origin drought, but when Josh Reynolds returned to Belmore at the end of 2022, he wanted no favours, just a fair crack.
Having departed the Bulldogs in 2017 after seven seasons and 138 games in blue and white, Reynolds never expected to be back at his spiritual home.
He played just 22 games across three unsettled seasons at Wests Tigers and had two years in England with Hull FC before taking a leap of faith on a train and trial deal with Canterbury for 2023.
The 33-year-old was prepared to do the hard yards in the summer heat alongside youngsters who probably had no idea what he had done in 2014… his reward coming on Sunday with an emotional return to Belmore to face the Warriors.
“Coming here on a train and trial was a mental battle for sure. It’s the most self-doubt I’ve ever had,” Reynolds said.
“On the first day of pre-season I was nervous but as the weeks rolled on I found my feet and felt like myself again.
Reynolds returns to Belmore in style
“I only had 12 weeks to prove myself so when I copped a little hamstring injury in the middle of it, that certainly didn’t help.
“I have to thank Ciro [coach Cameron Ciraldo] for sticking with me because they may have had some doubts about how my fitness would hold up.
“I’m glad it didn’t come easy. I wanted to prove myself to the group, not just walk in because of what I had done before.”
What he had done from 2012-16 was bring pride and passion to the jersey as the Bulldogs marched into five consecutive finals series and two grand finals, pushing the Storm to the limit in 2012 and matching motors with Souths for an hour in the 2014 decider before George Burgess’ solo try turned the game on its head.
In concert with Canterbury teammate Trent Hodkinson, the feisty five-eighth played a leading role in the Blues finally taking down Queensland in 2014 after eight years of Origin pain.
All great memories, but all achieved when he was younger, fitter and tad faster, and worth little as Reynolds toiled away trying to earn his blue and white stripes all over again.
After getting a chance in both the Bulldogs’ Pre-Season Challenge games, Reynolds played the opening round of NSW Cup and was 18th man for Ciraldo in Round 3 before an injury to Fa’amanu Brown last weekend opened up a spot on the bench for Sunday.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Reynolds said. “The joy I’m going to get will be special.
“Ten years down the track when I try and explain this to someone I won’t be able to because it has been such a different ride for me.
I’m glad it didn’t come easy. I wanted to prove myself to the group, not just walk in because of what I had done before
Josh Reynolds
“It’s been a lifetime since I was chaired off here [by the fans in 2017], it’s crazy. I did lose the love for the game a bit in that five-year period.
“Being at the Tigers and in England can’t compare to what it was like here.
“It would have been a bit of a bitter feeling in 10 years’ time telling my son or daughter about it if that was how it finished but now that I get to finish it here at the club I love, it changes all that.
“I got through that period and found the love for it again and the feeling I have now is like I had back then.
“Sometimes I tried too hard, I lost games for us, I had brain explosions, but it was because I cared.
“Some people call it grubbiness, I call it competing, it’s what I’ve built my career on and I don’t want to step away from that.
Ciraldo: Josh Reynolds will play a part in 2023
“I come in every day and want to make it a better place. I’m doing exactly what I used to do and Ciro has told me to go out and give energy on Sunday.”
Many of those same fans that hoisted Reynolds onto their shoulders after a dramatic 20-18 win over Newcastle in his final game at Belmore in 2017 will be on hand again as he makes an emotional return.
When the No.14 gets the call from Ciraldo to enter the fray, the reception will be loud and heartfelt for a favourite son of the club.
Just as he has done 138 times before, Reynolds will rip in for his club and his teammates in the pursuit of Canterbury’s third victory of the season.
“We want this fan base, this community to know that we do care and we are going to try and get this club back to where it deserves to be,” Reynolds said.
“Even if I don’t score two tries, set up six and kick a field goal it’s still OK, as long as I go out there, wear the jersey with pride and do my role.”
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