Melbourne assistant Jason Ryles will make his role with England rugby union permanent, leaving the Storm at the end of the 2020 NRL season to join coach Eddie Jones.
Ryles has been a regular visitor in the England camp over the past three years at the invitation of Jones, running skills sessions with a focus on tackling techniques.
Jones has long picked the brains of Australian rugby league coaches, calling on Ricky Stuart during last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The 41-year-old former international league prop has decided to accept a full-time role as skills coach under former Wallabies mentor Jones.
Ryles thanked the Storm, particularly coach Craig Bellamy, and said he was excited about a new challenge at the end of the season.
“I am really excited about the opportunity to work in a world-class program with the England national team and someone like Eddie, with his experience, is very appealing for me,” Ryles said in a statement.
“Linking with the England rugby team is going to be a new challenge but, first, we have a new NRL season to look forward to.”
Jones felt Ryles’ experience would benefit the England set-up, especially around the ruck.
“He has worked intermittently with us over the last few years so has a good awareness of the set-up,” Jones said.
“He comes from a rugby league background and we feel what he can offer as a coach, particularly with the forwards around the ruck, will help us with the way the game is going.”
Ryles joined the Storm from the Sydney Roosters as a player in 2012 and tallied 47 games across two seasons with Melbourne before retiring at the end of 2013.
He returned as an assistant coach in 2016 and helped the Storm to the 2017 premiership, two other grand-final appearances and last season’s minor premiership.
Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said during his four seasons, Ryles had developed into an “impressive coach”.
He was linked last year with the Newcastle vacancy before ruling himself out of the running.
“We respect his decision to accept such a unique opportunity to further his coaching abroad with an international team,” Ponissi said.
“He has been a key, respected and popular member of our coaching team and has impressed everyone here with his tactical knowledge and work ethic, as well as his passion to continually get better.”
Kick n Clap
Guest
Certainly beats the “Turnstile” technique which prominent in Super Rugger!!
Kick n Clap
Guest
Paul, Pound for pound & for actual game time ; The Sydney Roosters The Melbourne Storm & The Crusaders are best teams in that order in the World right now. Notice the top two are NRL teams, as they play in the the Hardest Rugby competition in the world bar none. Facts say it all ? Jones comes to Rugby League NOT the other way round. Does that tell you something? Looking forward to March when the BiG Boys start??
Kick n Clap
Guest
Every thing you have’nt got in your game? The List is endless..
Pickett
Roar Rookie
In similar news, Souffs tragic Cheika has signed on the coaching team at Easts because he wanted to be with winners. That rules out the Wallabies and...Souffs..lol...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well I doubt NRL coaches are focusing on teaching/developing that technique in their job.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
True Train but the one on one IP would still exist no?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah but back then league players actually were better defenders. Because of the differences in the games, and change to quick play the ball, and gang tackles to slow down the play the ball, NRL players are now inferior defenders in rugby, because they aren't used to one on one tackling, and despite having 2 less players on the field, the NRL defensive line has more numbers, so you don't get caught defending wide spaces.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
An NRL coach is hardly going to assist with that considering NRL is now based on chest high gang tackles, not one of one tackles.
In brief
Guest
Probably two different issues. What Ryles is probably helping with is individual technique which unfortunately is still an issue in rugby. Just look at Jamie Roberts / does he ever put his head on the correct side? Or Biggars try saving tackle in the World Cup leading with the head. Australian players are even worse.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Paul, I’m guessing that Eddie may have a trick up his sleeve, and he’s looking for a league style of defence. OZ NRL is obviously world class so maybe that’s why he picked an Aussie.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Pickett, not looking for trouble here but I’m hoping that you are not in the ‘union players can’t tackle club’. Plenty of ‘NRL experienced’ players (Izzy, SBW etc) have missed tackles when facing the complexity of rugby attack.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Ryles perfected the third man in flop. Working at the Storm and under Bellamy you’d have to think Jones is looking at slowing the ruck down - if it is possible to make rugby any less boring and slow.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Ryles often got penalised for going high but when he got hit high it was within the bounds of a tough man's game and not worth a penalty. He reacted angrily to this getting himself into trouble with the referees and gaining a reputation but he was just a tall version of tarzan and got penalised for any contact.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The way Rugby is headed with tackling, we should be recruiting touch football coaches. It’s sad but so are some of my old rugby mates with brain damage. I think it’s too many knocks over too many games. I suggest shorter careers at all levels.
Boz
Guest
Suspend Ryles!
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
When Rylesy was giving away dumb penalties playing for St George, I assumed he wasn't very bright. But since going into coaching, he's proved me wrong. Good job at the Storm, and good luck with your new one!
Chuck
Guest
"...tackling techniques." So, wrestling techniques.
Paul
Roar Guru
I assumed the same Pickett, but I still don't get why the second best team in world rugby needs an untested assistant coach to do that? Bit sad when there's apparently no better options to teach guys how to tackle in the home of rugby.
Andrew
Guest
Who would have thought 10-12 years ago that Jason 'Bendy' Ryles would become a sort after international coach?! Congrats to him. He is a good guy and clearly works hard. Fair to say probably the best current coach to come out of the Illawarra... (Present NRL company included)
Bonza
Roar Rookie
It's been happening since former Eel John Muggleton was recruited as a Wallaby tackling coach and most recently ex Shark Phil Bailey now at the Waratahs in a similar role. Basically they're recruited to improve one on one defence at the rucks with an emphasis on hitting hard and putting the player down quickly. As far as I can tell!