Incoming Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles has found support from a familiar ally after former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones praised him from their time together.
Jones and Ryles formed a team with England and the Wallabies, albeit the latter stint culminated in a horror World Cup for the side.
Ryles returned to the NRL with Melbourne after the World Cup and has since beaten Josh Hannay, Dean Young and Trent Barrett for the Eels role.
Jones believes Ryles’ time in two codes means he’s ready for the task ahead.
“He’s done his time as an assistant coach,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“He’s always been diligent and been quite adventurous. For an out-and-out league player to be involved in rugby, it’s not an easy task.
“They both have the same principles of play in getting the ball forward, but the intricacies of it are completely different. When he came over and helped with England, he was a bit of a character who knows his stuff really well.
“He develops good rapport with the players and is good with the coaches. He’s got all the attributes of a successful coach. He’s done a lot of time with Craig [Bellamy], he couldn’t be better prepared.”
Ryles’ appointment at the Eels comes after he was close to taking over the Dragons last year.
An assistant with the Roosters at the time, Ryles decided against coaching St George Illawarra but also subsequently left his role with the Tricolours.
Jones revealed he had conversations with the former State of Origin prop as he mulled over the Dragons offer.
“I remember speaking to him after St George [Illawarra] and, without going through all the details, he was very intelligent about how he made the decision,” Jones said.
“Parramatta has obviously got the right ingredients, it’s going to be a bit of a different mix, and he understands that and will get the mix right for them.
“… He’s always been really good with the players, I’d describe him as a players’ coach.
“He engages the players, he spends time with them and Rylesy was a bit of a larrikin. But he always knew how to draw the line between being a coach and too close to the players.”
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