A visibly emotional Josh Reynolds was forced to pause a post-game interview several times after playing his final professional game on Saturday.
The Canterbury Bulldogs icon announced this week the club’s NSW Cup game against North Sydney at Belmore Sports Ground would be his last.
He had a week earlier selflessly withdrawn himself from the Bulldogs’ NRL roster to allow the club to secure young playmaker Toby Sexton from the Titans, but indicated retirement was already in the back of his head before the Sexton decision.
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“It was an easy decision for me; I got sick of holding people back,” Reynolds told Fox League.
“I had a really good think to myself about it … I wanted to come back here and do what’s best for the club.
“The training these days is a different beast and I like to think I’m still King Kong and can turn up every day and match it with these boys, but I just can’t.
“It was nice to be able to do that for someone, and hopefully I can continue to give to the club in whatever way that is.”
Reynolds grew up in the area around Belmore, and recalled jumping the fence as a kid to watch his heroes play and train.
“You know there’s nothing like (Belmore),” he said.
“I’ve had so many of my best memories here, I started off as a seven-year-old kid playing my grand finals, and to be able to finish it here today in front of the people who have been there the whole time … was special.
“I love this place.
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“I always used to jump the fence … I grew up up the road at nan’s house, and we were just constantly in the area.
“I didn’t want the boys to win for me today; I wanted them to win for the badge … It means the world to me.
“This place does, this area does, and I’ll be forever grateful for what everyone’s done for me.”
The hill at Belmore was renamed Josh Reynolds Hill – just as it was at the end of 2017 when he left the club for a stint at the Tigers.
The NSW Cup game preceded the club’s first-grade clash with the Broncos, and much of the sell-out 17,000-strong crowd turned up early to witness Reynolds’ last game.
The crowd erupted mid-way through the second half when Reynolds made an intercept on his own try line and sprinted up the field.
He was run down by Bears defenders on half way.
“I was no chance,” he laughed.
While the send-off wasn’t what he was looking for – the Bulldogs were flogged 30-6 – the crowd cheered as he did a victory lap of the ground.
A corner of Belmore was full of his family, close friends and supporters. He spent a significant amount of time with all of them, and posed for a big group photo.
The club was also selling specially made Prince of Belmore shirts.
Bulldogs fans continued to celebrate Reynolds’ career after Canterbury’s clash with Brisbane, with Bulldogs and Broncos players also joining in.
“It was a very weird week,” the club legend said.
“I wanted to compete my backside off, but I just can’t anymore.
“There comes a time when you just have to come to terms with that, but I’m glad I got to finish here and in the middle.
“They call me Elton John; I’ve had that many send-offs … (But) that’s all she wrote.”
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