NRL 2023: Roosters set to slap six-figure transfer fee on Dragons target Jason Ryles

With the Sydney Roosters standing in the way of St George Illawarra’s top coaching target, Trent Robinson has given a hint to talks inside the Bondi club.

Anthony Griffin remains at the helm, although the walls are closing in. Picture: NRL Photos

Trent Robinson has weighed in on the future of Jason Ryles amid interest from Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra for the in-demand assistant coach.

Ryles, who is contracted until the end of 2024, met with Dragons officials on Monday to gauge his interest in taking over from besieged coach Anthony Griffin.

It’s understood the Roosters would demand a six-figure compensation payout to allow Ryles to break his current contract.

While Robinson said he would not stand in Ryles’ way, the Roosters needed to do what was best for the club.

“I never have. That’s not going to happen now,” Robinson said about blocking Ryles’ move.

“As long as there is clarity now and we are doing the best thing for the Roosters now.

“We’ve chatted about his future. It’s not something for me to go into. In a way it’s got something to do with us, but got nothing to do with us in another way. I’ve chatted to him privately, the rest I don’t have any more information about.”

NRL 2022 RD09 Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast Titans - Jason Ryles. Picture: NRL Photos

ROOSTERS TO HOLD DRAGONS TO SIX-FIGURE RYLES RANSOM

Brent Read and Michael Carayannis

The Sydney Roosters are likely to demand a six-figure compensation fee if assistant coach Jason Ryles is appointed to take over a rival at the end of the season.

Ryles has become the hottest coaching property in the game, having met senior St George Illawarra officials earlier this week at a time when the Dragons are weighing up what to do with their current head coach, Anthony Griffin.

Sources close to the Roosters say the club has been told that Ryles was invited to meet Dragons powerbrokers by former teammate Ben Creagh, who is a member of the St George Illawarra board.

They were further told that the meeting was not set up to sound out Ryles out the coaching job. Rather, the Roosters are of the understanding that the meeting was designed to give St George Illawarra officials the opportunity to pick Ryles’ brain about the best way to turn around their club.

Sydney Roosters assistant coach Jason Ryles is in the Dragons’ sights. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Dragons have not been given an indication that Ryles is not interested in the job.

Ryles has also been linked with the Melbourne job, where Craig Bellamy has been hedging his bets over his future as he weighs up whether to go around next season.

Bellamy confirmed he would make a decision next week and the suggestion is that he will go on for at least one more season, which would then align his future with Ryles’ contract as an assistant at the Roosters.

Ryles’ manager George Mimis is believed to be flying to Melbourne this week for talks with the Storm. Mimis also looks after South Sydney assistant Ben Hornby, who is believed to be the other leading contender for the Dragons job.

It means Mimis holds the whip hand as the Dragons contemplate what direction they will take with a successor to Griffin, who is aware that the club is sounding out potential replacements.

Ryles has long been considered a future head coach, having spent time working under Bellamy, Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Wallabies coach Eddie Jones when he was at the helm of England.

He is a former St George Illawarra player but has another year remaining on his contract with the Roosters and it is understood they are likely to dig in their heels if a rival comes knocking.

Ben Hornby could be an option for St George Illawarra to take over as NRL head coach. Credit: NRL Images.

It could mean any interested club would be forced to pay a sizeable compensation fee if they are to secure Ryles for next season. And any pay out could sit inside a club’s football cap.

Bellamy, meanwhile, confirmed he was edging toward a decision on his future as he spoke in the lead-up to Thursday night’s game against the Brisbane Broncos.

Once the game is out the way, Bellamy is expected hold talks with his Adviser Andrew Butler this weekend before informing Melbourne chair Matt Tripp of his decision early next week.

The smart money is on Bellamy coaching on.

“There have been things that have happened that have made it a little bit more complicated, but I‘m pretty sure early next week I’ll be making a decision,” Bellamy said.

“There’s a few variables. I’m sick of thinking about it. I need to make a decision myself.”

Aside from Ryles, Storm legend and Queensland coach Billy Slater has been mooted as a potential successor to Bellamy.

“I‘m not quite sure where Billy stands as far as being a head coach,” Bellamy said.

“I’m sure he’d do a great job without a doubt, but he’s got a few other things going on his life.

“His horses, they are really important to him. Breeding horses and running horses, then with his commentary, he enjoys that.

“With all due respect, if he just got a bit of an itch to coach, well, he’s probably scratching that with Origin. That is a thing between him and the club if it comes to that.”

As for Ryles, Bellamy predicted he would be a great head coaching.

“I‘m sure he’ll do a good job. He’s been around the game for a long time at the highest level,” Bellamy said.

“He played at the highest levels. He did a great job with us while he was here as an assistant coach. I’m sure he is doing a great job with the Roosters as well. If he gets that opportunity I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”

NEW DRAGONS CONTENDER EMERGES

St George Illawarra officials met with Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Ryles on Monday as the Dragons ramp up their chase for a new coach.

It is understood the meeting was informal but indicates Ryles is now in the frame to take over from current coach Anthony Griffin, having previously been hesitant to take on the job.

Ryles, the former Dragons prop, has been away from the club for almost two decades, while other candidates including ex-players Dean Young and Ben Hornby are known commodities. Shane Flanagan also worked at the Dragons as recently as last year.

However, Ryles is now emerging as the frontrunner, having previously been linked to the Melbourne job. However, Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who is off contract at this season’s end, is now favoured to remain in the top job for at least another 12 months.

There was speculation Ryles did not want the Dragons job but that has never been conveyed to St George Illawarra officials.

Ryles lives in Wollongong but still has a year to run on his Roosters contract and would need permission from the Tricolours to exit early.

The signs aren’t great for current coach Griffin, who is off contract at the end of 2023 but whose tenure could end as early as next week. Griffin will coach against North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night, in a match which coincides with captain Ben Hunt’s 300th game.

The Dragons are yet to formally interview a candidate. However, the list is now down to four with Ryles, Hornby and Young the top trio of contenders, and Flanagan considered an unlikely outsider.

The Dragons are yet to formally meet with any potential coaching candidates, but Anthony Griffin’s future at the club remains uncertain. Picture: Getty Images.

The Dragons’ horror start to the season could fast-track Griffin’s exit. They are now in the midst of a five-game losing streak and are equal wooden-spoon favourites with the Wests Tigers.

Following their 18-16 Magic Round defeat to the Tigers at Suncorp Stadium, the Dragons headed straight to the Gold Coast on Sunday night and will remain in Queensland ahead of the Cowboys’ clash.

Griffin has named an unchanged 17-man squad, meaning centre Zac Lomax, who was axed last week, has failed to earn a recall.

Lomax did not play in NSW Cup last weekend but is listed to face Newcastle on Sunday.

WHY GRIFFIN WILL SURVIVE DRAGONS AXE — FOR NOW

A camp on the Gold Coast and a fear of hijacking Ben Hunt’s 300th game look set to save St George Illawarra Anthony Griffin for at least one more week as Dragons officials doggedly stick to their timeline for finding his potential successor.

Sources close to the Dragons insist there was no flurry of phone calls after their disappointing loss to the Wests Tigers at the weekend. Griffin remains at the helm, although the walls are closing in as the club steps up its inquiries into their potential alternatives.

Griffin looked crestfallen after their defeat at Magic Round which left the club in a share of last spot. The Dragons have never won the wooden spoon but they find themselves well and truly in the mix heading into round 11, turning up heat on the club to make a call over Griffin.

The day is fast arriving, although it would be a shock if it was to come this week. The Dragons will head to Townsville to play North Queensland this weekend and it made no sense to return to Sydney after Magic Round, before flying north again.

Anthony Griffin remains at the helm, although the walls are closing in. Picture: NRL Photos

So the club opted to base themselves on the Gold Coast to prepare for the Cowboys. It seems hard to believe the club would make the decision to part ways with Griffin with the club interstate.

Hunt’s 300th game celebrations are also at the forefront of St George Illawarra minds this week. Hunt, the club’s captain, is one of Griffin’s most vocal supporters and his special moment may have helped keep the coach in the job for another week,

There is a recognition that it would be poor form for the club to sack the coach and take the focus off Hunt as he prepares for one of the most significant games of his stellar career.

Ben Hunt will play his 300th NRL game when the Dragons tackle the Cowboys. Picture: Getty Images

The Dragons are, however, well down there track in their search for a successor to Griffin and they could be provided with more clarity this week as Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy prepares for talks with the Storm.

The sense is that Bellamy is leaning towards going around again, which would leave the Dragons with a free run at Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Ryles.

The Roosters and Ryles will have something to say about that — he has another year on his deal with the club and sources close to the team insist the would be reluctant to turn his back on coach Trent Robinson and chair Nick Politis.

Ryles is also considered the frontrunner for the gig at the Storm and may decide he would be better served holding on for another year at the Roosters before heading to Melbourne.

Jason Ryles is a target for the Dragons. Picture: NRL Photos

That would leave South Sydney assistant Ben Hornby and Cowboys assistant Dean Young as the leading contenders to replace Griffin. The timing is impeccable for Young - he gets his chance to audition for the job on Saturday night as the Cowboys host his former club.

The other subplot in the Dragons’ saga is the suggestion that they are on the lookout for a head of football. Former South Sydney and Penrith chief executive Shane Richardson has been linked with the post and the Dragons may opt to wait for that appointment before making a call on the coach.