Canterbury great Andrew Ryan to play for Bulldogs in NRL Nines

Canterbury coach Dean Pay is ready to take a basketful of Bulldogs pups to Perth for the upcoming Nines – plus former skipper Andrew “Bobcat” Ryan making a surprise comeback.

NRL- Rugby League – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Bulldogs @ ANZ Stadium. Andrew Ryan makes a charge. Pic; Gregg Porteous

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There’s a Bobcat heading to Perth.

Nine years after he last pulled on the Canterbury jersey, Andrew “Bobcat” Ryan is set to make his rugby league comeback for the club.

Ryan, 41, will pull the boots back on for his beloved Bulldogs as a surprise inclusion in coach Dean Pay’s playing squad for the upcoming NRL Perth Nines.

Ryan, who retired from the NRL in 2011 after captaining the Dogs to the 2004 premiership and 218 appearances in total for the blue and whites, will also play a key role as mentor for the February 14-15 tournament in WA.

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Ryan will bring plenty of experience and a little history. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Pay is set to name a youthful Bulldogs squad for the short-form competition, which is why the possibility of Ryan’s return was first raised.

The former Test and NSW Origin forward’s experience will also aid the leadership of Corey Harawira-Naera, who will take over from Josh Jackson as captain for the Nines.

Jackson has been ruled unavailable after minor surgery for a broken nose.

Harawira-Naera’s elevation to the captaincy is a story within itself and evidence of his respect within the Belmore inner-sanctum after only arriving at the club from Penrith last season.

Corey Harawira-Naera will get to prove his ladership skills. Photo: Alix Sweeney

“Having someone of Bobcat’s experience with the squad for the tournament will be fantastic for our young guys,’’ Pay said.

“He was one of the great Bulldogs and just having him around the group and for the guys to be able to learn from him and chat to him about the game will be of great benefit to them.

“It’s really important that we keep that connection to our past and help our young players learn from their experiences.”

Fittler turned out for the Roosters back in 2014. Photo: Mark Evans

Ryan’s comeback continues a common trend of previous Nines tournaments which has seen retirees Brad Fittler, Jason Croker, Ken Nagas and Steve Menzies all pull on the colours of their former club.

Supporting Ryan in Perth as a fellow-retiree will be the Gold Coast Titans Michael Gordon.

Gordon will be named in the Titans squad despite retiring from the NRL at the end of the last season.

Meanwhile, the Roosters side will also feature the rugby league debut of former AFL star and Sydney Swans gun Nick Davis.

Ryan, who played for New South Wales in 12 State of Origin matches, in addition to representing Australia on eleven occasions, recently performed well for the Bulldogs team in the Legends of League tournament held in Newcastle last November.

He will play at some stage during the Bulldogs two matches against the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla Sharks.

The Bulldogs will name their full squad for the Tournament next week.

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Swans coach John Longmire and Roosters coach Trent Robinson hand over Nick Davis. Photo: Tim Pascoe

2020 NRL NINES POOLS

Pool 1: Panthers, Warriors, Roosters, Knights

Pool 2: Bulldogs, Dragons, Eels, Sharks

Pool 3: Raiders, Wests Tigers, Titans, Rabbitohs

Pool 4: Cowboys, Storm, Broncos, Sea Eagles

2020 NRL NINES SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

4.05pm: Warriors (W) v Roosters (W)

4.30pm: Panthers v Roosters

4.55pm: Warriors v Knights

5.20pm: Bulldogs v Eels

5.45pm: Dragons v Sharks

6.10pm: Raiders v Titans

6.35pm: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs

7pm: Cowboys v Broncos

7.25pm: Storm v Sea Eagles

8.05pm: Broncos (W) v Dragons (W)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

10.20am: Roosters (W) v Broncos (W)

10.45am: Warriors (W) v Dragons (W)

11.10am: Knights v Panthers

11.35am: Roosters v Warriors

12pm: Sharks v Bulldogs

12.25pm: Eels v Dragons

12.55pm: Rabbitohs v Raiders

1.20pm: Titans v Wests Tigers

1.45pm: Sea Eagles v Cowboys

2.10pm: Broncos v Storm

2.40pm: Quarter Final 1 – 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B

3.05pm: Quarter Final 2 -1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A

3.30pm: Quarter Final 3 -1st Pool C v 2nd Pool D

3.55pm: Quarter Final 4 -1st Pool D v 2nd Pool C

4.20pm: Broncos (W) v Warriors (W)

4.45pm: Dragons (W) v Roosters (W)

5.20pm: Semi Final 1 – Winner Quarter Final 1 v Winner Quarter Final 2

5.45pm: Semi Final 1 – Winner Quarter Final 2 v Winner Quarter Final 4

6.25pm: Women’s Final

7pm: Men’s Final

Originally published as Canterbury great Andrew Ryan to play for Bulldogs in NRL Nines