Move over Cliff Lyons and Des Hasler. Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt could become oldest halves pairing of all time

Reynolds said if Mam was suspended by the NRL for the start of the season, the Broncos would have a lot of experience suddenly guiding them around the park.

“The first positive I can think of when it comes to our combination would be experience,” Reynolds said of Hunt.

“He’s a senior figure, and the more senior voices you have in a team, the better you will be right across the board.

“He’s a classy player who has represented Queensland and Australia for many years, a great attacking threat, and he will also help raise the standards at training.

“It’s exciting he’s come on board. He’s been here before, he’s a big part of the club’s history – he started here when he was 13 – and when you hear him speak about what this club means to him, it’s really refreshing to hear. He was gone all those years [at St George Illawarra], [but] Brisbane was still a big part of him.”

Hunt was a halfback at the Dragons and defended mostly on the right side of the field, the same side Reynolds likes to defend. Hunt was brought to the club as cover for five-eighth and halfback, as well as to play hooker.

“I don’t want to give too much away about how we want to play, but I’ll be in that middle third, playing through the middle, and trying to get Ben and Reece Walsh and our outside backs some clean ball,” Reynolds said.

“Ben can be so damaging when he runs the ball. My job will be to create space for those two on my outside so they can go to work. Walshy has played a number of Origin games now, and has plenty of experience himself.”

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When told his combination with Hunt meant Lyons and Hasler’s record could finally fall, Reynolds said: “That makes me feel old. I watched those guys play, and they’re a lot older than I am. I guess there will be young kids who look at me and Benny that way now.”

Legendary league statistician David Middleton said Lyons and Hasler were the oldest pairing he could unearth. Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk are the oldest halves pairing to win a premiership, in 2019, at 27 years and 245 days and 35 years and 305 days respectively.

Middleton, whose Official Rugby League Annual is now out at rugbyleagueannual.com.au, added Broncos favourites Kevin Walters and Allan Langer remain the only two halves aged 30 years or over to win the title, in 1998.

David Middleton’s Official Rugby League Annual is now out at rugbyleagueannual.com.au