An attacking fullback, wing or centre whom Paul Cullen described as the "best kick returner in Super League" during the 2006 season, Reardon was the Wolves' leading tackle-buster with 66 in his first year at the club. Sponsored by Warrington Guardian, he enjoyed a rapid rise from Academy to Super League and Test rugby league between 2002 and 2004, adapting with ease into each level he reached. Turned professional from West Bowling to sign with Bradford Bulls in 2000, he shot to prominence in late 2002 when former Bulls assistant coach Karl Harrison took over as head coach of Salford City Reds and signed Reardon to boost the Reds' fight against relegation. Though the Reds were unable to escape the drop, Reardon was outstanding in his two months at the Willows and earned a call up to the England A' tour of Fiji and Tonga, where he worked with Warrington coach Paul Cullen. He returned to the Bulls in 2003 and found a place in the first team after a long term injury to Mick Withers, making 20 appearances in the title-winning Bulls side including the Grand Final against Wigan. A try, a superb display of defence and set of relieving runs from fullback saw Reardon win the Harry Sunderland Trophy for Man of the Match in the Old Trafford showdown. The following year he broke into the Great Britain squad for the Tri Nations series, and bagged four tries in the tournament. Missed the back end of the 2005 campaign with injury but made the England side at the end of the season, and toured Australia and New Zealand as a stand-by for the Great Britain squad in 2006.