Warren Ryan: Police charge two-time premiership-winning rugby league coach with assault

LEGENDARY rugby league coach Warren Ryan has been charged by police over the alleged assault of an 75-year-old man in an Eastern Suburbs hotel.

LEGENDARY rugby league coach Warren Ryan has been charged by police over the alleged assault of an 75-year-old man in an Eastern Suburbs hotel.

The two-time rugby league premiership-winning coach was involved in an ugly altercation at the Pagewood Hotel which allegedly left the man needing hospital treatment.

It was revealed two weeks ago in The Sunday Telegraph that Ryan, who was once a Commonwealth Games shot-putter, was alleged to have punched the old man at the hotel in Maroubra.

Sources at the pub revealed he had been barred for three months.

The incident was captured on CCTV footage but not passed on to the police at the time.

Warren Ryan in his final year as an NRL coach with Newcastle.

The 75-year-old rejected an offer to call an ambulance but was driven to hospital by a barman.

When contacted about the incident, believed to be over Donald Trump, Ryan declined to elaborate or provide any details.

“I’ve got no comment to make,” he said, before terminating the call.

A spokesman from the hotel also declined to comment but confirmed: “He (Ryan) hasn’t been back since.”

The Pagewood Hotel had been Ryan’s local watering hole for more than a decade. Patrons said he dropped in regularly for a beer.

Warren Ryan was hoisted aloft by his victorious players following the Bulldogs’ 1985 premiership win.

One eyewitness said: “It was such a bizarre sight — two blokes in their late 70s and 80s having a blue.

“And even more bizarre considering they were mates and always enjoyed a beer together.”

A spokeswoman for NSW Police said about 4.30pm on Friday November 11, two men aged 75 were at a pub on Maroubra Rd, Maroubra when an “altercation” took place.

Police will allege that Ryan assaulted the other man.

The injured man allegedly suffered a cut to his head and chest injuries and was treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick later that evening.

He reported the incident to police yesterday and police spoke to Ryan today.

Originally published as Warren Ryan: Police charge two-time premiership-winning rugby league coach with assault