Reynolds bags record as Souths pile more pressure on sorry Eels

What a shame there were no fans to witness fan favourite Adam Reynolds boot his way into the South Sydney record books on Friday night.

Reynolds passed Eric Simms’ long-standing points record at Souths when he converted a Dane Gagai try in the 45th minute.

He was immediately congratulated by teammates Cody Walker and Damien Cook, but the moment felt a little flat because Cbus Stadium was empty.

Nobody thought Simms’ record of 1841 points would be broken when he hung up the boots in 1975.

Then again, nobody thought Reynolds would be forced out of his childhood club at the end of this season and continue his career in Brisbane.

At least Reynolds will depart with his name in the club’s history books â€" and what is starting to look like a potential second premiership ring.

Adam Reynolds converts a try to break the Souths points record.Credit:NRL Photos

Souths are up to second on the ladder after their 40-12 win over Parramatta. They will remain there by the end of the weekend if Penrith lose to the Sydney Roosters.

They have won nine in a row and should make it 10 when they play the Gold Coast next weekend.

Superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell will be hoping he is not cited by the match review committee for a high shot on Parramatta’s Maika Sivo when he scored midway through the second half.

But Reynolds and Cody Walker are firing, as is the Souths pack. Coach Wayne Bennett sure knows how to get a team humming at this time of year.

Walker was grateful to be on the field to see his mate Reynolds enter the record books.

“I’m pretty stoked to be in a game where a local junior who has played all his footy here and been around the Redfern area, to break a record that has been around [since 1975], I’m really proud to be a part of it,” Walker said.

“It’s sad to see him go at the end of the year, but we’ve got a lot of time left in 2021 to send him out a winner.”

Bennett added: “It’s been 46 years that record stood for, he [Simms] retired in 1975. There have been a lot of players between 1975 and 2021. It’s a great credit to him and great credit to Eric for the standard he set for young men to follow.“

Bennett was not prepared to say Reynolds’ record would never be broken, and said you only had to watch the Tokyo Olympics to know “nothing is impossible”.

Josh Mansour scores a try early in Souths’ win over Parramatta.Credit:NRL Photos

“It might take 46 years again, but it will be done,” .Bennett said.

As for Parramatta, things are going from bad to worse with the heat turning up on coach Brad Arthur.

They are in free fall and shot for confidence. Reed Mahoney was in tears when he came from the field late in the game with what appeared to be a fresh shoulder injury. Thousands of Eels fans were crying at home in front of the TV knowing their premiership drought is next to no chance of ending this year.

It is amazing to think a team who started the year with such promise and excellent form are now a chance of bowing out in the first week of the finals. Heavyweights Manly, Melbourne and Penrith await them in the next month.

Arthur has built a handy roster but been unable to deliver the knockout punch in September.

Both teams completed well to start the game before Souths had success attacking the wing of late addition Haze Dunster. Dunster kept getting caught too far in field as Josh Mansour bagged a first-half double.

Reynolds had three goals and the chance to overtake Simms right on half-time, but his penalty goal attempt from 48m fell well short.

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Christian Nicolussi covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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