Kirk's axing risks his contract
By Barry Toohey
August 15, 2007
KIRK Reynoldson, the tough Newcastle Knights forward whose future at the club hinges on him playing one more NRL game this season, was yesterday dumped from the side to meet Penrith on Sunday.
And in an unprecedented move designed to take the heat off coach Brian Smith's decision, the Knights back rower's axing was approved by the club's board of directors yesterday prior to the squad being made public.
Reynoldson must play 15 top-grade games to activate a $200,000 contract for 2008. He played his 14th in Newcastle's 50-16 loss to Manly, but has been dropped despite making 30 tackles in 44 minutes.
Only Steve Simpson (38 tackles in 80 minutes) and Michael Young (35 in 50) made more tackles than Reynoldson in last Friday night's thrashing.
The controversy surrounding Reynoldson's uncertain future at the Knights was the catalyst that prompted captain Danny Buderus to go public last week with his concerns over the direction of the club under coach Smith.
The Knights have been in damage control ever since.
Reynoldson was told by Smith after training last night he wouldn't be in the squad for Sunday's clash with the Panthers.
The back rower was visibly shattered at the news but had little to say when asked about his axing as he left training.
He was unaware if he would be playing Premier League or if he was just being "rested".
"I just want to play," a rattled Reynoldson said before departing EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Knights senior executive officer Steve Burraston said there was nothing sinister in the decision to axe Reynoldson. But he admitted it was contentious, which is why he sought board approval.
"We knew it was going to be a contentious issue and I didn't want the coach to take the full brunt of it so I called a board meeting and presented the side to them and asked for the opinion of directors," Burraston said.
"They (the directors) were all there - the only one missing was Paul Harragon.
"They were in agreement and were happy with the decision and so was our football committee when I spoke to them about it."
Burraston, who will sit down with Reynoldson today to discuss his future, stressed the decision was form related and only applied for the Penrith game.
"It doesn't rule Reyno out of contention for first grade for the final two games of the season," he said.
"The team will be selected by Brian on merit depending on who we are playing like it is every week."
Premier League coach Trent Robinson admitted he had no idea if Reynoldson would be in Premier League or not this weekend.
"At this stage, that hasn't been decided," he said. "I don't know who I will be getting back."
Buderus was unaware Reynoldson would not be in the top grade against the Panthers. But he did not want to comment on the situation.
