Brisbane boss Dave Donaghy has opened discussions with Adam Reynolds' agent as the Broncos look to maximise the shelf life of a player "very hard to come by".
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And the chief executive has begrudgingly given the halfback his State of Origin blessing, certain Reynolds has the confidence and skill to fill the injured Nathan Cleary's boots in NSW's must-win June 21 Suncorp Stadium encounter.
With the Broncos boasting an NRL-best 10-4 start, Donaghy did his best to keep a lid on things at Red Hill in a mid-season review with reporters on Monday.
That included the futures of star Blues pair Reynolds and Payne Haas, who are both off contract beyond next year.
Eyebrows were raised at the length of the deal when a 30-year-old Reynolds signed a three-year deal to leave South Sydney in 2021.
Halfway through that term, the captain has defied constant niggles to deliver the goods and entertain a contract extension beyond 2024.
"I've had a very preliminary discussion with Adam's agent," Donaghy said.
"He's contracted to end of next year. He's the kind of player we knew we needed, so we went out and got him and he's fitted in like he's always been here.
"He's only played 33 games for the Broncos and every game he plays he's getting better and better, as is the group.
"They're very hard to come by; you don't want to lose them too soon, that's for sure."
Donaghy said there had been progress on the Haas front too.
"All these guys we want to keep; there's a hell of a group here," the CEO said.
"I'm confident there's a program here that Payne will want to continue to be a part of, as would Adam."
With a hamstring injury sidelining Blues No.7 Cleary, there has been noise around Reynolds adding to his two Blues caps earned in 2016, possibly alongside in-form former Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker.
"With my Broncos hat on it's always hard watching them run around for 80 minutes in a pretty tough environment," Donaghy said.
"You watch the game through your hand in front of your eyes.
"If they (NSW selectors) went down that path ... he wouldn't let anyone down. He's done it before and I'm sure if he's given the call up he'd do it again."
Donaghy also put his support behind a Pasifika NRL expansion team, batting away Brisbane Tigers' inner-city bid as "a hypothetical I haven't spent much time considering".
He also confirmed he had met once with the NRL about beginning next season in Las Vegas, but that he needs to see more detail before that idea progresses.
Australian Associated Press
