DON’T dare try telling Josh Reynolds rugby league isn’t a mental game — the Canterbury star’s mind is his greatest asset and just like his kicking and passing game, training his mind for the rigours of playing in the NRL has been a long process.

But it’ll all be worth it if he can reach the level of the game’s greatest player, Johnathan Thurston.

In showing how serious he’s taking 2016, Reynolds has revealed he’s cut certain friends out of his inner circle and taken to heart the work of Canterbury’s mind coach whose tips he’s been putting into practice.

“Johnathan Thurston didn’t become Johnathan Thurston by just throwing the ball around, eating garbage and going out on the weekends,” Reynolds told foxsports.com.au.

Round 19

“His prep is perfect because he always seems to have good games. I’m trying to do that with my diet and a bit of stuff with my mind.

Josh Reynolds of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking a field goal. Source: News Corp Australia

“Sometimes I feel I can drift. I want to relax a bit and that’s how I want to be on the field — I see the best players are the most relaxed players so that’s what I’m trying to be.”

Not only has Reynolds been working on managing his anger but the former NSW Origin representative has been trying to not dwell on past performances which he believes will be a major turning point for his career.

“We’ve had a mind coach at the Dogs for a while, John Novak — it’s been a four year process,” Reynolds explained.

“I still get stages where I feel agitated and angry but now I know how to deal with it. I had a bad day at training the other day — I don’t go home and think about it, I get over it and know tomorrow’s a new day.”

While many of these kinds of stories have been written about various players during pre-seasons, this one is different.

Josh Reynolds fires up. Source: News Corp Australia

When Reynolds speaks, there’s something different about the tone of his voice. He seems more mature and more comfortable within himself. He’s changed.

Reynolds has known for quite some time now that if he wants to make a long-term career out of rugby league that he’s going to have to make some changes.

“My career has been inconsistent and I’m not afraid to say that,” Reynolds admitted.

“I’ve had some really high highs but then some really low lows — I want to find that balance in my game and life on the field.

“That’s why I’m confident in knowing what I have to do. I’ve taken some really big steps in my life off the field and my game on the field to make sure I’m being the player I want to be, not the bloke at the coffee shop or on Twitter.

“I feel like I’m in a good place.”

Changing his mentality has long been a work in progress.

So when the news broke mid-last year that his halves partner Trent Hodkinson was set to leave for Newcastle in 2016, the five-eighth knew the time to put his hard work into effect had arrived.

Josh Reynolds gets in the face of referee Gerard Sutton. Source: News Corp Australia

This year Reynolds is the senior playmaker. The buck stops with him. It’s a lot of pressure which is being placed on the 26-year-old but he’s certain he’s ready for it.

In getting into a positive mindset, Reynolds has distanced himself from “the few negative people that I see [that] tend to bring me down”.

The next step is tweaking his playing style, with his aggression and brain fades often landing him in hot water and under scrutiny.

“I’ve played like that my whole life,” he said.

“When I first started I could have got away with it. Now, that over the top (stuff) has got me into trouble before.

“It’s not the player I want to be — a hot head — but then again, it got me there. I have to find that balance. I need to take a step back and realise what my job is.

“There’s time’s for me in the game where I can spark the boys and spark something. I’m finding them. I’m looking back at things in the past and realising when’s the time to do it and when’s the time to hold back.”