‘That’s really disrespectful’: NRL 360 erupts over ‘rookie coach’ definition

The NRL 360 panel have exploded into debate over the definition of a “rookie coach” in a fiery exchange that left plenty of people scratching their heads.

Brent Read and Braith Anasta blow up on NRL 360.

The NRL 360 panel have exploded into debate over the definition of a ‘rookie coach’ in a fiery exchange that left plenty of onlookers scratching their heads.

The argument centred around Roosters assistant Jason Ryles who is expected to sign a long-term deal this week to become the Dragons head coach.

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NRL 360 co-hosts Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis, and regular guest Paul Crawley, were all arguing against journalist Brent Read.

The war of words kicked off when Crawley said it was risky for a Ryles to join a club that isn’t known for having a strong front office.

Things got heated as the desk debate how Jason Ryles will handle the pressure at the Dragons.

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Crawley: If he was walking into the Roosters where he’s got stable administration, you’ve got Nick Politis above you, you’d give him a fair chance of having success. Even when Fitzy went to Cronulla, they were a club in a far better position than what the Dragons are right now. Jason Ryles may be the nest great coach but then again, he may not be.

Read: He’s not a rookie coach, that’s really disrespectful to Jason Ryles.

Crawley: It’s not disrespectful, it’s the damn truth.

Read: He served an apprenticeship at the Roosters, an apprenticeship at English rugby union, he’s worked under Craig Bellamy - he’s not a rookie coach, he’s coached for a long time in the NRL.

Crawley: He is a rookie coach. He has not owned his own side at this level. He is a rookie NRL head coach, any way you want to look at it.

Read: Well let’s go back and get Anthony Griffin to do it again, because he wasn’t a rookie coach.

Crawley: The club has bought themselves another six months.

Read: What’s wrong with buying yourself some time?

Crawley: Because they should have made the decision last year.

Read: They wouldn’t have got Jason Ryles last year.

Anasta: Jason Ryles would be one of the great coaches but he is a rookie coach Ready, he hasn’t coached first grade.

Read: He’s not a rookie coach, he’s a rookie first grade head coach.

Anasta: Are you ok?

Read: He coached a first grade side.

Anasta: As an assistant.

Read: That’s still a coach.

Anasta: Oh my god.

Read: I’m saying he’s coached for a long time, he just hasn’t been a head coach.

Anasta: There’s Jersey Flegg coaches and under-12 coaches who have coached for a long time. I’m not saying they shouldn’t have got Ryles but to say that he’s not a rookie coach is rubbish. He’s a rookie coach.

It comes a week after Ryles was reportedly told to leave the Sydney Roosters.

The 44-year-old former NRL front-rower is the unbackable favourite to take the reigns at the Dragons, a club he played 156 games for, after Anthony Griffin was sacked earlier this month.

He had reportedly promised the Roosters to see out his three-year contract but is just a season and a half into the deal.

Originally published as ‘That’s really disrespectful’: NRL 360 erupts over ‘rookie coach’ definition