Coach Craig Bellamy and long-time assistant coach Adam O'Brien are warmly described by players as "full on" about the side's preparation.

It drives a good part of the Storm's success but  like any other workplace, there are times when things need to lighten up.

Enter forwards coach Jason Ryles.

The former Storm forward is only three years removed from his own playing career and after taking charge of West Wollongong for two seasons, Bellamy recruited the retired forward to join his 2016 coaching staff.

The move has proven an inspired one both for the coaching staff and for Bellamy's impressionable forward pack who have enjoyed Ryles' mix of humour, seriousness and his modern approach to forward play.

Prop Jordan McLean has become one of the Storm's most important forwards and performed well in the finals despite missing two parts of the season due to injuries.

"Rylesy is probably the icing on the cake when it comes to the coaches," McLean said. "Craig is pretty flat out and so is Adam [O'Brien],  then Rylesy knows when to be serious and when to be funny for us boys.

"Sometimes he can be like a 13-year-old kid in the meetings, it's pretty funny - then the next minute he is serious."

Prop Tim Glasby has also impressed this season with his consistent play and both he and McLean used the word "respect" when speaking of Ryles.

"Rylesy is a likeable bloke and easy to talk to," Glasby said. "He's been where we have been and not too long ago, he knows the modern game and how forwards work in the modern game.

"Everyone respects what he has done in the game and takes on board what he says."

McLean agrees: "If you have respect for someone it doesn't really matter if you are playing alongside him or being coached by him - he's definitely got the respect of the boys."

Ryles' childlike behaviour doesn't always endear him to Bellamy, but much like Kevin Walters during his time in Melbourne, Ryles' personality has calmed down his boss more times than not.

"I've got nothing on Kevie but I'm certainly a little more relaxed than Craig and Adam," Ryles said.

"In saying that I think it's a good balance. What you see from Craig in the box is not what you get at training every week. He doesn't explode like that every day of the week."

Ryles played 15 games for Australia and eight for NSW, as well as 156 for St George Illawarra after making his debut in 2000.