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Josh Reynolds opens up about what it is like to be coached by Ivan Cleary after Des Hasler
JOSH Reynolds has opened up about what it is like to be coached by the “relaxed” Ivan Cleary after his days with Des Hasler.
And while the Wests Tigers recruit clearly hasn’t forgiven Canterbury for their lack of “respect”, what is also obvious is that Reynolds doesn’t miss some of the mind games he left behind.
Asked what it was like to be coached by Cleary, Reynolds’ response was interesting.
“He just lets you do your thing which is good,” Reynolds said.
“He might have a word here and there.
“But from where I have come from, game day usually for me was the best day but before it was really hard.
“Now with Ivan I just feel a lot more relaxed. He lets you relax. As a player, I need to relax. You can think about the game but not constantly. He doesn’t hound you. He lets you be yourself.
CULTURE: How Cleary cleaned up Tigers
PREVIEW: Stability ahead with Dogs’ shuffle to pay off
Josh Reynolds says he is more relaxed under coach Ivan Cleary.
“I have been here with Ivan for only four or five months but ever since the first meeting we had I just knew that he was a straight shooter. He won’t beat around the bush. He will tell you exactly what he thinks and I like that.
“Sometimes in life you get people or coaches or coaching staff who will tell you are going good for the wrong reasons.
“But Ivan will actually tell you what you need to work on, or if you are going good.
“He has been really good and I am sure our relationship as coach and player can just grow.”
Reynolds said it wasn’t that the Bulldogs didn’t offer him a deal to stay, it’s the way they went about it that still hurts.
“I won’t lie, they did offer me a contract,” Reynolds said.
“I won’t go too far into it but I felt I put a fair bit into that club.
“I am not the greatest player in the world.
“But it is not the money. It is just a bit of respect.
“Whoever made that decision, it was a bit of a kick in the guts. But that is just how it goes these days. Now I am looking ahead.
“I am being brutally honest. When it happened I was shattered.
James Graham and Josh Reynolds greet the crowd after their last game for the Bulldogs.
“But I honestly can say that I have made the right decision.”
At 28, Reynolds has joined the Tigers on a four-year deal but feels he has plenty of “good years in me”.
“I really do,” he said.
“I feel like I know the game a lot better now. I am never going to lose what I have in the energy. But I just feel in a game sense I am learning a lot more from a guy like Benji and just people around the club.”
While the Tigers have an extremely tough start to the 2018 season, playing all the top four teams from last year including Melbourne twice in the opening five rounds, Reynolds did not offer up any excuses.
“I hate playing a victim,” he said.
“I really don’t like people who play the victim. I still talk to a couple of the Doggies’ boys, their start is tough.
“I was speaking to Luke Lewis last week, the Sharks have to go to Townsville.
“Is that an easy start?
“You can either go into round one and say if we win, maybe ... stuff that.
“Let’s go in against all their gun players and who knows what’s going to happen.”
JOSH Reynolds has opened up about what it is like to be coached by the “relaxed” Ivan Cleary after his days with Des Hasler.
And while the Wests Tigers recruit clearly hasn’t forgiven Canterbury for their lack of “respect”, what is also obvious is that Reynolds doesn’t miss some of the mind games he left behind.
Asked what it was like to be coached by Cleary, Reynolds’ response was interesting.
“He just lets you do your thing which is good,” Reynolds said.
“He might have a word here and there.
“But from where I have come from, game day usually for me was the best day but before it was really hard.
“Now with Ivan I just feel a lot more relaxed. He lets you relax. As a player, I need to relax. You can think about the game but not constantly. He doesn’t hound you. He lets you be yourself.
CULTURE: How Cleary cleaned up Tigers
PREVIEW: Stability ahead with Dogs’ shuffle to pay off
Josh Reynolds says he is more relaxed under coach Ivan Cleary.
“I have been here with Ivan for only four or five months but ever since the first meeting we had I just knew that he was a straight shooter. He won’t beat around the bush. He will tell you exactly what he thinks and I like that.
“Sometimes in life you get people or coaches or coaching staff who will tell you are going good for the wrong reasons.
“But Ivan will actually tell you what you need to work on, or if you are going good.
“He has been really good and I am sure our relationship as coach and player can just grow.”
Reynolds said it wasn’t that the Bulldogs didn’t offer him a deal to stay, it’s the way they went about it that still hurts.
“I won’t lie, they did offer me a contract,” Reynolds said.
“I won’t go too far into it but I felt I put a fair bit into that club.
“I am not the greatest player in the world.
“But it is not the money. It is just a bit of respect.
“Whoever made that decision, it was a bit of a kick in the guts. But that is just how it goes these days. Now I am looking ahead.
“I am being brutally honest. When it happened I was shattered.
James Graham and Josh Reynolds greet the crowd after their last game for the Bulldogs.
“But I honestly can say that I have made the right decision.”
At 28, Reynolds has joined the Tigers on a four-year deal but feels he has plenty of “good years in me”.
“I really do,” he said.
“I feel like I know the game a lot better now. I am never going to lose what I have in the energy. But I just feel in a game sense I am learning a lot more from a guy like Benji and just people around the club.”
While the Tigers have an extremely tough start to the 2018 season, playing all the top four teams from last year including Melbourne twice in the opening five rounds, Reynolds did not offer up any excuses.
“I hate playing a victim,” he said.
“I really don’t like people who play the victim. I still talk to a couple of the Doggies’ boys, their start is tough.
“I was speaking to Luke Lewis last week, the Sharks have to go to Townsville.
“Is that an easy start?
“You can either go into round one and say if we win, maybe ... stuff that.
“Let’s go in against all their gun players and who knows what’s going to happen.”
