BEHIND the relentless Melbourne machine is a magic milestone waiting to happen.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jason Ryles could well be coaching Wests in Sunday’s Illawarra Coal League grand final against Dapto at WIN Stadium.
The former Dragons forward had led the Red Devils to last year’s decider, where they were beaten by Helensburgh, when Craig Bellamy came knocking.
It paved the way for another ex-NRL star Brett Kimmorley to take charge at Parrish Park, as Ryles joined Bellamy’s staff at the Storm.
After coming so close to a premiership as a player, could Ryles finally break through as a coach?
Melbourne have already won the JJ Giltinan Shield for the minor premiership and take on defending champions North Queensland in a qualifying final at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
The story has been written numerous times about Ryles’ career near-misses.
He was part of the heartbreak generation of 2005 and 2006 preliminary final, becoming a sometime target of fan frustration along with then Dragons teammate Trent Barrett.
In 2008, Ryles – dressed in Red V kit for a Mercury photo – spoke about wanting to stay in Wollongong and finish his career with the Dragons.
Days later it was announced he was on the way out as the Bennett regime prepared to take over.
Bennett wanted to flatten out the Dragons’ salary cap and lay the platform for a short-term recruitment fix which took them to the 2010 premiership.
Ryles was a long-serving player at the top end of the club’s pay scale and frustrated at being shown the exit.
On the fateful, teary night, when St George Illawarra exorcised their demons, Ryles was on the other side of the field, playing for the Roosters.
Ryles then finished his career at the Storm, Bellamy gaining valuable service from an experienced campaigner, as is the coach’s way.
But a hamstring injury denied him the chance to play in the 2012 Storm premiership, adding another bitter-sweet chapter to his career.
Now Ryles is being touted as a successor to Bellamy, so highly is he regarded.
Ryles would follow a cast of Dragons talent into the NRL head coaching ranks, including Barrett, Nathan Brown and Paul McGregor.
Standing in Ryles’ way is Port Kembla’s Kane Linnett, who won the NRL crown last year, but almost became the villain when he dropped a Johnathan Thurston pass cold with the try-line beckoning.
Whatever Saturday’s result, they could both be at ANZ Stadium on October 2.
After coming so close as a player, a premiership in his first year in the coaching ranks would be a remarkable feat, under one of the great mentors of the modern era in Bellamy.
No doubt he’ll be cheering the Red Devils from afar to go one better as well on Sunday.
#MERCURYFINALS
The Mercury wants you to be part of the finals action.
We’re launching the #mercuryfinals page during August and September, including all the live scores from Illawarra junior and senior sport. And we want you to be involved as well.
Post your scores from finals games, as well as team shots, action photos or selfies of you and family and friends enjoying the game on Twitter, using the hashtag #mercuryfinals.
We’ll post them all on our website and will be giving out prizes for the best and most creative posts.