The Sydney Roosters have told defensive coach Jason Ryles they no longer want him to be a part of the Tricolours 2023 premiership campaign.
Roosters king pin Nick Politis – one of Australia’s most successful businessman – has told Ryles’ agent George Mimis to go and find the ex-NSW and Australian an alternative gig and the Tricolours will grant him a release from the remainder of his contract effective immediately.
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FOX LEAGUE PODCAST – KIERAN FORAN
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‘Has he listened’ Felise ignoring Wayne? | 01:08
When Ryles initially signed with the Roosters to replace Craig Fitzgibbon it was supposedly a three-year contract until the end of 2024.
Yet here we are in the middle of 2023 and Ryles has held meetings with Dragons board member Ben Creagh and is now the $1.04 favourite to take over as the new St George Illawarra coach.
Backed by one of the NRL’s most well-connected boardrooms, the Roosters have long prided themselves on being a club where a handshake is your word and accountability is everything.
In the case of Ryles they feel as though the club was misled and as a result it’s best for all parties if they simply call it a day and go their separate ways as soon as possible.
Once regarded as a transit lounge for players in the early 1990s, the Roosters are determined they will not become a transit lounge for assistant coaches wanting to work and learn under three-time premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson.
The Roosters have devised a fresh strategy to promote from within with the likes of recently retired captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend in line to assume greater responsibility with the NRL side.
It will mean the Roosters new coaching structure rolling forward will be Robinson as head coach and then Matt King, Brett Morris as assistants.
The club is also keen to promote retired champion players Cordner and Friend to work with the NRL side.
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RYLES SET TO JOIN DRAGONS THIS SEASON
Nothing happens quickly at St George Illawarra.
After the death by a thousand cuts departure of Anthony Griffin the Red V are continuing to move at glacial speed to appoint a new coach for 2024.
The soon-to-be departed Sydney Roosters assistant coach Jason Ryles is now into $1.04 to eventually accept the role.
Master negotiator George Mimis initially asked the Dragons for a five-year contract for Ryles but the club has some reservations.
St George Illawarra are more comfortable with a three or four year deal with negotiations continuing to progress in a positive direction.
Given how good Mimis is when it come to the art of the deal, we’re tipping Ryles will be announced as the Dragons new coach next week.
And we’re tipping the Red V contract will be for the remainder of this year plus four seasons beyond that.
Caretaker coach Ryan Carr will continue to coach the Dragons for the remainder of this year.
That will allow Ryles to get his feet under the desk and begin the process of assembling the football department staff who best suit the direction he wants to take the club.
Shane Millard – one of the most likeable blokes in rugby league – is strongly tipped to also link with the Dragons under the new Ryles regime, most likely as an assistant coach.
Caretaker coach Carr is also a strong chance of remaining under the new Red V regime.
Beyond that the Dragons are tipped to be in the market for a head of recruitment and a new general manager of football.
Current GM of football Ben Haran has done an admirable job in testing circumstances but may move into a slightly different role.
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INSIDE BLUES GREAT’S BRUTAL SESSION
The NSW Blues have paid tribute to one of the Godfather’s of State of Origin rugby league – the late, great Tommy Raudonikis.
Tommy famously devised the “Cattledog” call to ignite an unhinged all-in brawl during the 1997 State of Origin series at the MCG.
Everyone in the game has got a Tommy story – plenty of them you can’t print – and they are always hilariously entertaining.
So how have the Blues tapped into the legend of Tommy?
By calling in one of his all-time favourite players in Blues enforcer Mark Carroll into the NSW camp this week to lead a boxing session at Woolloomooloo PCYC.
Spudd held the pads for Blues debutant Tevita Pangai Jnr with the NSW side adamant they won’t be bullied the way they were in the series-decider at Suncorp last year.
“I bashed them. Plenty of them copped it straight in the melon,” Carroll told us.
“I’ll give it to Tevita and Payne Haas, they can handle themselves.
“They’re both big things and I love the way they chase the collision.
“Tevita got me flush with a couple of very clean uppercuts.
“Then I hit him back with so many lefts he was begging me for a right.
“Anyway, I’ve poked the bears. Now let’s just hope they bring it out on Wednesday night. I’m tipping they will.”
FORGOTTEN GURU BEHIND ORIGIN BOLTER’S RISE
We love the inclusion of Canberra Raiders hard nut Hudson Young straight into the NSW starting pack on the left edge.
It’s also a reminder of what a gun eye for talent the late, great recruitment guru Peter Mulholland was.
“Skull” – who sadly passed away in December of 2021 – is still widely regarded as one of the best eyes for emerging talent rugby league has seen.
It was Mulholland who identified Young’s untapped potential and steered him to the Raiders to cut his teeth under Ricky Stuart.
Stuart has proven the perfect coach for Young who actually started his career as a five-eighth with the Greta Branxton Colts in the Maitland and District Junior Rugby League.
It hasn’t always been the smoothest road for Young on his journey into the NSW State of Origin side.
But as Mulholland would often tell us: “As Jack Gibson said, we don’t want choir boys.”
Young deserves his place in the Blues forward pack given how hard he works on his game and his fitness.