Dual NRL premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds has opened up on his wife’s secret drug addiction that nearly tore his family apart.
Reynolds made his NRL debut for South Sydney in 2012 and played over 230 games for the club including the 2014 premiership year, before a shock move to the Brisbane Broncos where he tasted success again this season.
Reynolds left South Sydney at the end of the 2021 season after the club offered him only a one-year contract extension when he was seeking a longer deal.
He signed a three-year contract with the Brisbane Broncos starting in 2022, saying the move provided more security for his family and a fresh challenge.
Reynolds later admitted it was difficult leaving the club where he debuted and won a premiership, saying he had mixed emotions watching his former teammates struggle after his departure.
But now, with the release of his autobiography On My Own Terms, which will be released this week, Reynolds has revealed there another pain – leaving supercoach Wayne Bennett.
Adam Reynolds has opened up on his wife Tallara’s cocaine addiction that nearly tore their family apart
Reynolds confided in South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett when he played for the Rabbitohs
That’s because Bennett was the man Reynolds confided in for help when his wife Tallara became addicated to the narcotic cocaine.
Reynolds later learned that Tallara began secretly using cocaine at home after a few drinks while he was away playing on weekends.
Her use escalated, and she started taking the drug without alcohol, leading to emotional breakdowns and threats to harm herself, including one night when she locked herself in the bathroom in hysterics.
It all became too much for Reynolds, who turned to the master coach in tears in 2019.
Reynolds believes that without the guidance of coach Wayne Bennett, who was leading Souths at the time, his relationship with his wife and mother of their four children would not have survived.
‘Wayne prides himself on being able to turn young men into good footballers but even better people,’ Reynolds wrote.
‘I hadn’t spoken about Tallara’s struggles with anybody, and became emotional the second I started to open up to Wayne on this particular day.
‘With the help of some of the club’s welfare staff, Tallara spent a month at a rehabilitation clinic in inner-western Sydney at the start of 2020.’
Tallara seeked help and the family is healhier and happier than ever living in Brisbane
Reynolds helped steer the Brisbane Broncos to a drought-breaking premiership this season
Since then, Tallara has beaten her addiction and their family unit is stronger than ever.
‘It’s one thing to battle addiction, but it’s another to share your story with everyone else – I couldn’t be prouder of Tallara,’ Reynolds told SMH.
‘It was an extremely brave thing to do. I won’t lie, with the book about to come out, she’s been a bit nervous about what the reaction will be. People are always going to judge.
‘But by being so honest, Tallara knows she can help other people, other mothers, who might be in a similar situation, and remind them they are not alone.
‘We decided to tell the girls when we sat down to write the book about 12 months ago. They read the book this past week.
‘They were too young at the time when Tallara was struggling, so there were no flashbacks for them. If anything, they felt sorry for Tallara because they never wanted their mum to feel that way.
‘The fact Tallara shared her knowledge and told her story of overcoming addiction has taught our own girls a valuable life lesson.
‘The sad thing is Tallara thought she was all alone. She was unaware at the time others would have been too happy to help her – 99.9 per cent of people wanted to see her do well, not struggle.
‘It was a tough time for us. I had no idea about the drugs, and was angry at first.
‘Wayne played a big role in saving our marriage. I wrote about what he did to help us in the book, but there will be a lot of conversations at that time I will keep private.
‘I’ll forever be grateful to Wayne for helping Tallara and I. Our marriage could not be any better. Tallara is doing so well. Like I said, I’m really proud of her.’
