‘He’s decided that he wants to go and pursue that’: Trent Robinson all but confirms Jason Ryles will be the next Dragons coach

Jason Ryles is expected to be announced as the next coach of the Dragons, but his early exit from the Roosters could have ramifications.

Trent Robinson has given his blessing for assistant coach Jason Ryles to break contract and take the top job at the Dragons.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has given assistant Jason Ryles permission to negotiate with the Dragons, with a decision on his long-term future expected next week as the Red V looks to replace Anthony Griffin.

Amid talk of acrimony over Ryles, who is contracted to the Roosters until the end of next year, it was business as usual at Roosters club headquarters on Thursday morning. But the landscape could look very different next week when things are expected to ramp up.

The timing couldn’t be any better, with the Roosters set to play the Dragons on Friday night and Ryles the leading candidate to make the move south on a reported five-year deal starting in 2024.

Jason Ryles is expected to take over at the Dragons in 2024 after St George Illawarra bosses got rid of Anthony Griffin. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“He’s decided that he wants to go and pursue that, and he’s got our support in that,” Robinson said, having gone through something similar when former assistant Adam O’Brien left to take the top job at Newcastle.

“It’s been pretty clear that if an assistant wants to go for a job, then they can go for a job. That’s really clear. We’re supporting ‘Rylesy’ in doing that.

“I think that’s all been put on hold this week as far as I know, obviously because (of what’s happened) this week. I’d say we’ll find out next week what’s happening.”

Ryles has another year to run on his deal with the Tricolours, which is why the club will likely seek some form of monetary compensation if he decides to leave early and link up with the Dragons.

Trent Robinson and the Roosters have indicated they will seek some form of compensation given Ryles had another year to run on his deal. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“That was the contract, and then we’ve had discussions around if he’s going to go and what that looks like,” Robinson replied when pressed on the topic.

“That’s not for us to discuss. I haven’t really talked to his manager about it either.

“He can go through the process, and we support him going for the job. He’s ready, so it’s time for him to go and look at that, but that’s after this week. We’ll know a fair bit more about what’s going on, and I imagine he’d put it on hold this week as well.”

While the Roosters have their own coaching issues, Robinson says he’s not worried about what’s happened at St George Illawarra this week, with Ryan Carr given the interim role for the rest of 2023.

Ryan Carr has settled into the interim coaching role this week but faces a stern test against a Roosters side desperate to bounce back.

“It is what it is for them,” he said.

“It didn’t matter what happened in the opposition team, no matter who we were playing this week and what their situation was. We’re pretty clear about how we want to play and the attitude that we want to play with.

“Whatever happens to oppositions, that’s their house. We need to look after ours.”

The Ryles situation is the latest distraction for the Roosters who have slipped out of the top eight, have faced criticism about the form of star recruit Brandon Smith and have lost Golden Boot winner Joseph Manu to an ankle injury.

It led to a “pretty honest discussion” on Saturday morning after their heavy loss to Penrith that included veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leaving the field in the first half with a pec injury.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves faces a final fitness test to see if he’ll be cleared to face the Dragons.

He has trained since then but hasn’t done any contact work.

If he’s not cleared to face the Dragons, then he’ll have an extra week to recover given the Roosters have the bye in round 13.

“We’ll find out today,” Robinson said.

“He’s trained, but he hasn’t done any contact. He’s been able to run and catch and pass and all of that, but (it’s about) getting that pec to do some contact today. We’ll see how it goes.”

Originally published as ‘He’s decided that he wants to go and pursue that’: Trent Robinson all but confirms Jason Ryles will be the next Dragons coach