Jason Ryles facing Dragons conundrum over NRL's 'worst' job
After the Dragons sacked Anthony Griffin, leading contender to replace him, Jason Ryles, faces a difficult decision in the coming months.
If Eddie Jones was in charge of appointments at St George Illawarra, the search for a new coach would be a quick one. The Wallabies coach says the Red V don’t have to look any further than his former assistant – and ex-Dragons prop Jason Ryles – to replace Anthony Griffin, who was sacked on Tuesday morning following six straight losses.
Ryles was employed as a skills coach with England's national rugby team under Jones in 2020/21, impressing everyone he worked with in a short period of time. Jones and Ryles held several conversations about rugby league during that time, with the Wallabies coach impressed with the former front-rower's grasp of the intricacies of the code and his attention to detail.
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It was no surprise to Jones that Ryles ended up back in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters as an assistant to Trent Robinson. Now Jones believes Ryles, who spent time at the Storm as Craig Bellamy's right-hand man, is ready to go it alone at the Dragons.
"He's very impressive. He's got a good knowledge of the game, he's got a good way with people and he's a good teacher," Jones told Yahoo Sport Australia. "He's a good fella, a champion, and will make an excellent head coach. He will be fantastic (for them)."
Ryles and former teammate Ben Hornby head the list of candidates to replace Griffin, with Josh Hannay and another ex-Dragon, Dean Young, also in the discussion. Ryles' situation is tricky as he has a year to run on his contract at the Roosters and may be eyeing the Melbourne Storm job in the long-term.
Roosters assistant Jason Ryles in running for Dragons coach
Craig Bellamy's decision to bat on next year means Ryles would have to wait until 2025 – at the earliest – for the Storm role to potentially become available. So, does Ryles jump into the St George Illawarra hot seat immediately with all the drama and pressure that brings, or see out his time at the Roosters in the hope Bellamy leaves at the end of '24?
Take the worst job in the NRL or wait to secure one of the best?
"He’s got to strike while the iron is hot because an opportunity like a head coach, it might not come up for numerous seasons. You’ve got to take the opportunity while it's there," Matt Johns told Radio SEN.
"(He) played at the club, (he’s) very familiar with the organisation and I think it might be a job he’d like to go after."
The Dragons hope to make an announcement on their new coach by the end of the month.
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