Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds has expressed his disappointment at being replaced late in Friday night's victory over Parramatta, but said he would do "what needs to be done for the team" in the future.
With his side leading 16-12 and struggling to penetrate the Eels defence for the first hour, a frustrated Reynolds was hauled off the field by coach Michael Maguire in the 64th minute and replaced by young gun Luke Keary.
The substitution produced immediate results, with Keary producing a pinpoint bomb off his first touch of the ball for second-rower Kyle Turner to score the match-turning try.
And while Reynolds was happy to get the win, he wasn't afraid to voice his displeasure at coming off.
"A bit of frustration there, I think. Haven't really talked to [the coaching staff] about it as of yet. It's probably in the plans. I would've like to have stayed on, but he (Maguire) is just trying to do what's best for the team," he said.
South Sydney went on to record a sorely needed 32-12 victory and halt a worrying two-game slide, but a flummoxed Reynolds said he was keen to seek out Maguire and clarify his future role in the team.
"A bit disappointed but if that's what needs to be done for the team, that's what needs to be done. The team's bigger than me and I can only do what I can do. Hopefully, I'd love to sit down and talk with 'Madge' and see what's the plan," said Reynolds.
"I haven't really touched base with Madge on it. It's up to him, whatever he wants to do. It's his team. I'm willing to put my hand up and do what's best for the team."
With Maguire indicating that skipper John Sutton would remain as the team's first-choice five-eighth, it seems Reynolds is destined to share the halfback role with Keary for the rest of the year – competition he said has benefited the team.
"It's something that we've got in our squad. We've got a lot of depth," he said. "A lot of the younger boys are putting pressure on all the older boys and more experienced players. It is bringing the best out in some of our blokes and it's a good challenge every day at training."
The 24-year-old also admitted he was still feeling the after-effects of a knee injury sustained in a loss to the Titans a fortnight ago.
"[It was] a little bit sore heading into the game but as soon as you get across the white line, it all goes away," he said.
"It felt fine out there tonight and I pulled up well. I was always going to play. The week off helped. But I trained straight after that that day and it felt good."
