New Reds assistant coach Peter Ryan to split time with Brisbane Broncos
PETER Ryan has promised pain and progress for both the Reds and Broncos in his rare double life as Minister of Defence for two clubs in rival codes.
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PETER Ryan has promised pain and progress for both the Reds and Broncos in his rare double life as Minister of Defence for two clubs in rival codes.
The hard-edged former State of Origin forward will literally be changing tracksuits in car parks for three months over summer to sharpen the tackling of both teams.
Skills coaches like Andrew Johns have dabbled with one-off sessions on kicking with the Wallabies while linked to the NRL but never like Ryan’s twin roles over three months.
Reds coach Brad Thorn wanted Ryan badly enough in his remodelled coaching team for next season to find a way to work with his prior commitment to the rugby league club.
TOUGH OPERATOR: Thorn knows what Reds are getting in Ryan
On Wednesday, Ryan finalised a December-February role with the Broncos to work on tackling technique for several sessions a week which he will synch with the two-year full-time role he has started at the Reds.
“The Reds have been really good with me being able to do both because I’d agreed to the Broncs role with (coach) Wayne Bennett some time ago,” Ryan said.
“They may be different codes but, to be honest, there will be some similar stuff on tackling technique and pushing past the pain barrier.
“The right mental attitude is needed whether it’s rugby, league, ice hockey or whatever.”
The former league hardman won four premierships with the Broncos in the 1990s before a code switch to rugby, a 2001 Super 12 title with the Brumbies and coaching opportunities in both codes.
It’s only an eight-minute drive between the Reds’ home at Ballymore and the Broncos’ Red Hill training base so few dual roles have geography so on side.
Ryan is unfazed that the punishing sessions he was renowned for with the Brumbies in Canberra’s benign weather will now be inflicted on the Reds in the dripping humidity of a Brisbane summer.
“Great. I think my sessions have always been known for plenty of body-on-body contact,” Ryan said.
“If someone wants to turn up and commit less than 100 per cent they won’t last or won’t be in the sessions at all.
“For players to achieve big things they have to suffer some great sufferings and I suppose I don’t say that lightly because they’re going to be in pain, they’re going to be put under pressure.”
Ryan said a phone call from Thorn had triggered the Reds job and he was looking forward to working beside his former Broncos teammate.
“I was fortunate to play with Brad and we know the value of aggressive, dominant individuals to control games,” Ryan said.
“Queensland is close to my heart, it’s my state and the Reds are the parochial team.”
Tony McGahan has moved from Reds assistant coach to head the Reds Academy and take charge of the state’s best Under-19s and graduating schoolboys.
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