NRL 2021: Ryan James breaks silence on Gold Coast Titans exit, joining Canberra Raiders

Ryan James broken his silence on his Gold Coast Titans departure, revealing how his move to Canberra has reinvigorated his career.

Former Titans captain Ryan James has spoken about his shock departure from the Gold Coast, claiming a move to Canberra has reinvigorated his career and put him on the path to an NRL premiership.

James will make his first NRL appearance in 693 days when he debuts for the Raiders in Sunday’s Round 1 clash with Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium.

It will be his first appearance for an NRL club other than the Titans after he failed to reach an agreement with his former club on a contract extension last year.

A local Gold Coast product, James joined the Titans as a teenager and went on to debut in the NRL in 2010.

He played 144 games for the Titans, becoming the club’s longest-serving player and rising to the captaincy before suffering a serious knee injury on April 21, 2019, in a Round 6 game against Newcastle.

James missed the remainder of the season as the Titans collected their second wooden spoon and coach Garth Brennan was sacked.

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Ryan James has broken his silence on his Titans exit, revealing why he joined the Raiders.

He got back to full fitness before suffering another freak knee injury on the eve of the 2020 trials, a third reconstruction ruling him out for the entire season.

James rejected a one-year offer to remain at the Titans, taking up a two-season deal with Canberra which increases if he performs well in 2021.

James, 29, admitted he was disappointed to leave his local club, but said a move to the nation’s capital had opened his eyes up.

“At the time (I was disappointed), but that’s when you realise football’s a business,” he told The Sunday Mail.

“You get on with life and move on. I had to look at my longevity and how long I have left in the game.

“I got over it pretty quickly. Everyone knows I still love the majority of the people at the club. They gave me my first shot. There are a lot of people with good intentions at the club.

“It comes down to business and business decisions happen.

“I thought I’d be selfish and make the move. I’ve loved it ever since. It’s been one of the better things to happen to me.

“I spoke to a couple of people and my mentors who said the change would be awesome for me.

“I’ve been in a new environment with new people to impress. You’ve got to work hard for your spot and that’s what I’ve been doing.

“I will use it (Titans stalemate) as an extra push and drive. It’s got me to where I am now.

“I had to take it on the chin and move on. The move has been one of the best decisions of my career.”

New Canberra signing Ryan James has a long history with the Raiders. Source: Supplied

James had interest from the Roosters, but decided to join Canberra because of the length of contract and roster assembled by coach Ricky Stuart.

The Raiders lost the 2019 grand final and finished fifth last season before losing in the preliminary finals to eventual premiers Melbourne.

James, 29, said he quickly realised why the Raiders had been a successful club in recent years.

“I looked at a couple of clubs but I thought Canberra with their roster and halves…everything they’ve got is a good recipe to go deep in the finals,” he said.

“I’ve seen how differently everything is run. The one thing I’ve noticed is having a really strong squad to train against makes the level and intensity of training a lot better.

“There are a fair few boys playing NSW Cup this week that are genuine first grade starters in other teams.

“The level of training down here has gone up from what I’m used to. It is more intense, faster and harder. I’ve never wrestled like I’ve wrestled down here.”

James, a Raiders supporter as a child, made a successful return in Canberra’s trial games, punching out 70 minutes heading into his first NRL match in nearly two years.

The mental demons of back-to-back knee reconstructions may not be completely gone but he is confident of performing off the bench.

“I’m feeling good, I got the monkey off the back in a trial and had about 70 minutes total across two games,” he said.

“We waited 12 months this time (with my knee) instead of the typical nine months. We took extra time down here and didn’t get back into full contact until after Chrissy.

“I’ve ticked all the boxes and made sure I was ready physically and mentally.”

James spent his 2020 recovering from another ACL injury and getting his body right before moving to Canberra. Picture: Rik Conti.

HODGSON’S WAITING GAME

—Michael Carayannis

For three months Josh Hodgson sat there and observed. He noticed the rules changes. The subtle differences in the game as he watched on sidelined with a season-ending knee injury he sustained in round nine last year.

The Raiders co-captain was licking his lips at the prospect of finally returning to the field and having a decent crack under the game’s new rules.

“Eyes up footy is coming into it a lot more,” Hodgson said. “A few years ago when it was a lot slower and more structured, we had to create the plays to trick teams to score points. That has gone out the window.

“More often than not tries are scored from eyes up footy and getting in and around the ball and pushing up fast. We’re looking for blokes who are fatigued and targeting them.”

The Raiders spent the pre-season trying to perfect those combinations round the ruck. A focus will be on the likes of Jack Wighton and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad pushing up through the middle, supporting Hodgson.

Another Raider recovering from an ACL injury, Josh Hodgson has been paying close attention to the new rule changes. Picture: Getty Images.

“At the end of the day we are all footy players and you have the natural instincts,” Hodgson said. “They are the ones you usually rely on. It’s those instincts kicking in. Hopefully we see more of that. “That will come into it more than ever”

The Raiders progressed to one game short of a return to the grand final last year even with Hodgson sidelined. He will return to the no. 9 jersey against the Tigers on Sunday and with back-up rake Tom Starling overlooked for a bench spot, Hodgson is expected to play the full match.

Hodgson said he did doubt how the change of the game would impact his play but never questioned his commitment to make making it back from a second knee reconstruction.

Hodgson is expected to play big minutes in his Raiders comeback, with Tom Starling overlooked on the Raiders bench. Picture: Getty Images.

“You wonder how it’s going to go and how the rules are going to benefit you,” Hodgson said. “It’s always a rollercoaster in rehab especially the second time. You know the guidelines so it’s a bit harder. I still love the game as much as when I went full-time when I was 18. I just love what I do and I’m Itching to get back out there. I still have that hunger to be here every day and do something that’s really a paid hobby.

“If I didn’t think I could still do it I would be hanging up the boots. I have a fair few years in me don’t worry about that.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Ryan James breaks silence on Gold Coast Titans exit, joining Canberra Raiders