Many years ago Josh Reynolds met a young, starstruck fan by the name of Jacob Kiraz at a junior rugby league game.
Last Sunday the pair fought tooth and nail to deliver one of the Bulldogs’ most memorable wins of the past seven or so years.
Kiraz is a lifelong Dogs supporter and his favourite player has always been Reynolds. His dream was to pull on a blue and white jersey just like his idol — and in Round 7 last season he did.
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He became an overnight sensation with Bulldogs fans.
He also caught the eye of Reynolds, who tweeted last July: “Jacob Kiraz is some player,” while mulling over his next move having just made the decision not to continue with Hull in the Super League.
Fast forward to last November and the pair reunited — this time as teammates.
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A new photo was taken of Reynolds and Kiraz on Sunday. They were embracing after a 15-14 win over the Cowboys in golden point.
It was Reynolds’ first game back in the NRL in over 900 games and his biggest fan was there to celebrate it with him.
Speaking on the Fox League podcast on Monday, Reynolds opened up on his “bromance” with Kiraz — and how the 21-year-old makes him feel “so special.”
“The staff put the photo up during the review and all the boys were all like ‘aw yeah…’ because we have a little bit of a bromance and the boys love to take it out of us,” Reynolds laughed.
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“But it’s pretty amazing how — and this is probably a great thing for any NRL player/sportsman — we’ve got such a special privilege to inspire people. You never know when you’re going to inspire the next generation.
“That was at my junior footy club, I think Jacob said he was either playing or watching someone. I remember we had come back from a Friday night win and I went to the junior footy club the next day and just got a photo with him.
“It’s crazy how that happened and now I’m actually playing with him.
“So never take it for granted what a photo or what taking time out of your day can do for kids or anyone in the world. Jacob, he always says it to me and he makes me feel so special. I feel when you give back it’s not about hearing about it, you just do it.”
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Kiraz is just 19 games into his NRL career. He represented Lebanon at last year’s Rugby League World Cup and sits equal second on the Dally M leaderboard.
Reynolds is signed until the end of this season and although he’s taking things “week by week,” he has no plans to hang up the boots yet.
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But when he does he’ll return the favour to Kiraz and will look at him with stars in his eyes.
“I play with this bloke now and I’m going to be the one in 10 year’s time down at the pub going ‘yeah, I took him under my wing that bloke when I was finishing up my career’,” Reynolds smiled.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but the way he’s going, he’s really putting his hand up for some higher honours.
“The type of person he is, he’s got really good drive, he competes, he loves the club.
“He’s going to be another guy that the Bulldogs really embrace and I’m glad that we’ve got this connection that I honestly will remember and cherish forever.”
