Ryley Jacks planning to apply lessons from Melbourne Storm to take pressure off Ash Taylor

GOLD Coast NRL recruit Ryley Jacks admits moving away from the Glitter Strip three years ago was the best thing that ever happened to his career.

GOLD Coast NRL recruit Ryley Jacks admits moving away from the Glitter Strip three years ago was the best thing that ever happened to his career.

Jacks once played for Burleigh in the Intrust Super Cup but moved on after the Bears stumbled through a disappointing 2015 season.

At 24 and struggling to make his mark, the playmaker’s NRL dreams were fading fast.

But a switch to the Sunshine Coast reinvigorated him and a stunning 2016 ISC campaign – on the back of Falcons coach Craig Ingebrigtsen teaching him “to really back myself” – led to a Melbourne Storm deal.

Ryley Jacks playing for Burleigh against Tweed Heads in 2015. Picture: Richard Gosling

“I had a couple of years at Burleigh in the Queensland Cup and sort of my career wasn’t going anywhere. I went up to the Sunny Coast and it was the best thing for me,” Jacks said.

“I got to get into the Melbourne system and then I have come back to the Coast so it’s funny how it has worked out.”

Ryley Jacks at pre-season training. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

Jacks has joined the Titans on a one-year deal after 25 matches for the Storm.

The Brisbane-born left-footer, who is set to rival Tyrone Roberts for a place in the halves alongside Gold Coast marquee Ash Taylor, declared he could have stayed at Melbourne but left with their blessing to be closer to family and pursue regular game time.

Ryley Jacks played 13 games for the Storm last season but was dropped in the lead-up to finals. Picture: AAP Image

“At 26, I don’t want to just be playing reserve grade for most of the year,” Jacks said.

Jacks said he had learnt copious lessons from the renowned Storm system that could be applied here as he plots to take pressure off Taylor’s shoulders.

“For me as a half, I really looked up to Cooper (Cronk) and just his direction out on the field. He did so much organising and talking,” he said. “Some stuff you don’t see on TV, all the behind-the-play stuff, I think that’s what I got out of Cooper.

“And Cam (Smith), just his leadership, how calm he is. Hopefully I can bring a bit of that to the Titans.”