RUGBY LEAGUE
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The football gods haven't always smiled on Wests captain-coach Jason Ryles but they may be about to deliver one last piece of fortune ahead of Sunday's grand final clash with Helensburgh.
In one corner, the Tigers will be desperate to end a 22-year premiership drought after three years of being so close they could all but taste it.
In the other, Wests will be looking to send long-serving hooker Matt Clarke out a winner and, in the process, deliver Ryles the long-awaited premiership that eluded him throughout his 248-game NRL career.
Ryles hasn't spent any time this week dwelling on the past but said the series of near-misses during his career have given him an appreciation of how rare such opportunities are.
"That stuff's the last thing on my mind at the moment but it is a special day," Ryles said. "It's a different level [to the NRL] but there is so much time invested in this competition both - physically and emotionally - so I know for both teams, whoever wins, it'll be a big relief."
Taking the field on grand final day was not something Ryles had contemplated this year, which he had planned to spend solely in the coach's box.
However, a string of injuries prompted a return to the playing paddock and a shot at grand final glory.
"It certainly wasn't planned," Ryles said.
"We had a few setbacks early on, particularly losing Kingy [Justin King] and Lloydy Thomas early in the season.
"I was planning just to coach this year but with the two big boys going down it forced my hand a little bit.
"I thought I'd give it a couple of games and see what happens and I've actually really enjoyed it.
"I'm a lot more relaxed than I was last year and a little bit fitter and a little bit bigger.
"It's great to be playing against a good team like Helensburgh because it's always tough."
Ryles is one of several players to return to the field in time for the finals and the Devils look to have timed their run perfectly following their major semi-final win.
"We've used 38 players in first grade in 15 games so it's been hard to get that continuity but over the past month we've managed to keep the same team on the field," Ryles said.
"That's helped us build a few combinations going into the back-end of the season."