High Steaks: Beau Ryan on work, family and why he is always prepared

When Beau Ryan played NRL, concussions were simply part of the game. But the footy player-turned-TV presenter says he takes head knocks a lot more seriously now his young son is playing.

It is a fear that runs through Beau Ryan’s mind often – of his seven-year-old-son receiving a head knock on the footy field.

The former rugby league star-turned-top television host has encouraged both his children – son Jesse and daughter Remi, 11 – to play sport, but admits he does worry about them being injured.

The issue has received much recent attention, with many retired rugby league players having subsequently been diag­nosed with various conditions related to concussions and head knocks.

“Before my time, getting knocked out was a badge of honour. People got knocked out and were stumbling around and all over the place and they’d stay on the field,” Ryan said.

“Independent doctors have made it a lot safer because if you get a brain injury or you get a head injury, you should be off the field.”

TV star and former footballer Beau Ryan says he likes to be prepared in his professional life. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Today, the NRL leads the way when it comes to dealing with head injuries and ensuring players are taking extra precautions.

Ryan, 39, who played a total of 126 games for Wests Tigers and the Cronulla Sharks, was forced to retire early in 2014 because of the uncertainty and risk of playing with a persistent neck injury.

“Concussions were a part of the game, and I got a couple of bad ones,” he said.

“It was an issue but it wasn’t highlighted. It didn’t have the attention it probably deserved, and now people are acutely aware of it, which is good.”

Jesse plays both soccer and rugby league while Remi plays soccer.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about him getting a head knock,” Ryan said.

“It is part of the game, but I think the game’s in probably the safest era it’s been because of so much emphasis on head knocks, injuries and recovery.

“I think we’re in a pretty safe place, so I’m actually glad he’s coming through now.

“But if he did get a bad head knock, I would second-guess letting him play again. I think every parent would.”

Ryan sits down for a High Steaks interview with journalist Jonathon Moran at Aalia restaurant. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Ryan has been as successful in television as he was on the field.

Having learnt the ropes with his loveable larrikin comedy segments on The Footy Show, he cemented his position as a serious player in TV as host of The Amazing Race Australia, and, this week, will be seen alongside Jonathan LaPaglia and Blair Joscelyne when Top Gear Australia premieres on Channel 10.

Sitting down for a delicious lunch of flank steak and dry-aged Murray cod at Aalia restaurant, in Martin Place, Ryan is bounding with energy and excitement ahead of Top Gear Australia launching.

He’s fully prepared — and prides himself in that.

“My preparation is second-to-none in TV, and I think I learnt that from rugby league,” he said.

“Yes, you have doubts, but I know by the time I step in front of the camera I’ve already done that piece to camera 1000 times in my mind and 1000 times, literally, in front of the camera at home.

“I’m well prepared and so that doubt just gets smaller and smaller.”

Ryan with his wife Kara and their kids Jesse and Remi. He’s much less complacent about head knocks now than he was when he was playing football. Picture: Richard Dobson

Ryan had the same approach to league.

“Whenever I doubted myself in rugby league or we made an error or there was an issue, there was a process (we followed),” he said.

“So, you’d do video on the other team, you’d do extra work in the gym or extra work catching the ball or extra work passing.

“You’d have all of these boxes to tick. I have the same mentality for hosting. If I’ve got a long piece-to-camera, I study what I talk about and I walk around the house.

“My kids think I’m crazy, that I’m talking to myself 24/7, trying intonation.

“I’ll get my daughter to record me, and we’ll watch it back.

“A lot of people look at me like I muck around and I joke, but I prepare really well for TV and all of my hosting gigs, which probably surprises people, but I don’t mind surprising people.”

Ryan in action for the Cronulla Sharks against West Tigers in 2014.

While many of Ryan’s fellow players went on to commentating roles or other jobs in the media, his drive has been to entertain people. The bug of TV has got him good.

“Rugby league was my life growing up, but when I got the opportunity to step in front of the camera for the first time and that red light came on and it was recording, I knew that was where I was meant to be,” he said.

“I loved the feeling I got. I just love making TV, mate, I really do.”

The transition from professional athlete to “normal life”, whatever that looks like, didn’t come easy, though.

It’s taken time for Ryan to be seen as a TV host and not just a former rugby league guy appearing on television.

“A lot of my identity was in that (league),” he said.

Jonathan LaPaglia (l to r), Beau Ryan and Blair Joscelyne on Top Gear Australia. Picture: Supplied

“I’d done a couple of other shows here and there and a bit of radio, but it was The Amazing Race – such a big a national show, a global franchise – that was my opportunity to really take my first solo hosting job and also show the skills and things that I’ve learnt along the way.

“That was the step, that was when I went from footy player to TV host. Now, going to Adelaide or the Top End, people go ‘There’s that guy from Top Gear or The Amazing Race’, and that sits OK with me.

“It’s people seeing me for the first time. There’s always improvement, and I’m probably my own harshest critic.

“But I feel people know me for TV first and foremost and then a former player second.

“I like to put myself under pressure, in a good way. I might fail and I might have a few setbacks but the key is to keep testing myself so I don’t get complacent.”

He may have a reputation as a being a bit of a larrikin, but Ryan is very serious about being the best he can be. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Family is at the core of everything Ryan does. Wife Kara and their two kids are “everything”.

There have been rocky times, though, as in all relationships, but the couple are solid and have worked hard on their relationship.

“Our relationship is extremely strong at the moment because everything we do is for our kids and every decision we make is that we sit down and go ‘How will this affect our family?’. And ‘How will this affect our marriage?’.

“And we make the decision together. We probably include each other more than we ever have.”

The family have a close group of friends and live in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.

Travelling brings its challenges, with Ryan estimating he was abroad filming The Amazing Race Australia and Top Gear Australia for much of the first half of the year.

He was on a plane home, even if for just 24 or 48 hours, in any downtime between filming. Kara joined him in France for a spell, too.

“My wife, she is the rock of the family,” Ryan said.

“She keeps the whole ship above water, especially when I’m away filming and away at work, she’s with the kids 24/7.”

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Originally published as High Steaks: Beau Ryan on work, family and why he is always prepared