It's hard for South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds to look back on his ground breaking season in a positive light as his beloved Rabbitohs failed to make the finals for the first time in five years.
Much like Souths' season, Reynolds views his own successes as a roller-coaster ride filled with as much pain as there was jubilation.
The 26-year-old has dealt with separate jaw, neck and shoulder issues this season but offset that by making his State of Origin debut for New South Wales.
The past three weeks haven't been kind to Reynolds either, as he overcame further hamstring and concussion concerns to take his place in the Rabbitohs' 32-12 win over Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
While proud of his own individual achievements in 2016, it didn't stop Reynolds from reflecting on them in the same shadow of the Rabbitohs' likely bottom-four finish on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.
"It's a year for learning I suppose. I learnt a hell of a lot this year throughout the Origin series and I came back with a lot of confidence. I've been challenging myself and I think I've gained a lot of experience because of that," Reynolds told NRL.com.
"I can definitely look back on those things and use it constructively next year.
"[My season] has been a reflection of the club – it's been up and down. Unfortunately there were a few injuries there during the year and it's always tough bouncing back from those injuries.
"I just want to finish the year off on a high. There's still one game to go and we're all looking to do our best there."
The diminutive playmaker featured for his first 80-minute performance in three weeks against the Knights, even overcoming illness to ensure his new nickname 'Half-a-game Reynolds' wouldn't stick.
Reynolds proved the star of the show in Newcastle in the end, where he recorded three try assists.
The task Souths have set themselves now is seeing out the year with four-straight wins to boot.
"It was definitely positive to stay on for 80 minutes. The boys have been giving me heaps of garbage actually – 'Half-a-game Reynolds' – and stuff like that," Reynolds laughed.
"But we're finally showing signs of what we're capable of. It's unfortunate we didn't give ourselves a chance to make a run for the semis. Looking back on it now it sort of hurts but we will use that motivation to better ourselves as players and as a club."
