Storm could lose key man to Parramatta
Melbourne Storm has been “mixing things up” for Jason Ryles who could take over Parramatta armed with skills beyond the coaches box if he was the man to replace Brad Arthur.
Ryles is one of the names strongly being linked to the Eels who have formed a committee led by chief executive Jim Sarantinos to find the next coach after Arthur, who had previously been an assistant to Craig Bellamy in Melbourne, was axed after a massive loss to the Storm in Brisbane last weekend.
Having been lured back to Storm where he finished his playing career to potentially succeed Bellamy, Ryles has been left in limbo after the master coach agreed to go on for a staggering 23rd season in 2025.
Ryles has compiled a significant coaching resume, having worked under for Wallabies and England coach Eddie Jones in rugby and with Trent Robinson at the Sydney Roosters before returning to Melbourne.
Bellamy said the 45-year-old would go with his blessing, and a few new skills, should the Eels come calling.
“We don’t want him to go but it’s not very often that you get those sort of opportunities so if he wanted to go I wouldn’t imagine we would stand in his way,” Bellamy said on Wednesday.
“He’s doing a really good job for us.
“He’s doing some defence with our ruck but he’s also taken on the role as leadership coach and a bit in recruitment. We’re mixing things up for him.”
Bellamy said he would reach out to Arthur in the coming days after what he suggested was a “tough call” convinced he would land at another club.
“I’m sure he will find another club - he’s a good coach and really good person so he will find another job,“ Bellamy said.
Storm return to Brookvale Oval on Friday night to take on Manly with star halfback Jahrome Hughes named to return from a calf complaint but minus Cameron Munster who could miss up to 10 weeks after suffering an adductor tear.
Bellamy though said with a bye following the clash, Hughes wouldn’t be rushed back just because Munster was out knowing how well his team played without both in the second-half demolition of the Eels.
“So the way they did start the second half would have started and then continued, like it would have been easier to say, “This is getting too hard, he Musters out.” You know, we haven’t got, Paps (Ryan Papenhuyzen) and we haven’t got Hughsey,” he said.
“To me that they all doubled down and, you know,. you know, just really important. They know what their role is and, you know, be really determined, you know, to do it. “That’s what it, what it looked like, you know, so, yeah, it was real, real happy, real proud of the way they, they played after a couple of setbacks and, you know, like, they have a golden, you know 10 or 12 -minute period there and that took the game away from Parramatta.
“It was really good how they responded.
