Jason Ryles has declared he now feels ready to be an NRL head coach, vowing to bring a blend of Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson to his first top job at Parramatta.
Ryles sofficially began work at the helm of Parramatta in the past week, having spent the previous two months working in the background at the end of the season.
Eels players will return to training on November 1 to a new-look coaching staff, with Nathan Brown, Sam Moa, Scott Wisemantel and Nathan Cayless to join Ryles.
Ryles has long been considered one of the next coaches in waiting, having served a long apprenticeship at Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters.
The former representative prop turned down St George Illawarra as recently as last year, but said he felt Parramatta was the right place for him to take his chance.
“I think I’ve done my time as an assistant but also as a captain/coach and then coach in Wests Wollongong,” Ryles said.
“I’ve got a lot of experience under my belt. I have worked for some pretty elite coaches and had success there as well.
“And then worked with some elite players as well, and obviously organisations. Melbourne and the Roosters have been at the top of the league for 20-plus years.
“Two or three years ago I thought if an opportunity did come up that I would genuinely be ready for it.
“Nothing has overwhelmed me at the moment. It’s all been part of what I expected would happen.”
Ryles said he had spoken to recent rookie coaches Cameron Ciraldo and Craig Fitzgibbon in recent times, and still expected to do a lot of learning on the job.
But he also took confidence from his stints under Robinson and Bellamy, along with Eddie Jones in rugby.
He faces an immediate challenge after Brad Arthur’s axing as coach earlier this year, with the Eels finishing 15th and 18 players off contract at the end of 2025.
“Obviously they have shaped me along the way, that’s why you do your apprenticeship,” Ryles said.
“I have been lucky to deal with those guys. Craig has set the foundation for what winning has looked like, without the scoreboard.
“He’s really effort based, really hard work ethic.
“Then I got to the Roosters and I felt I learned so much from Trent through the tactical side of it, principles and how to apply it.
“And then to have the courage to do things differently. Trent is great at that.”
“And then Eddie … it’s his unrelenting pursuit of excellence, I have learnt there. You put all that together and then add your own flavour to it.”
Ryles also insisted captain Clint Gutherson remained a big part of Parramatta’s plans, while labelling the loss of talented junior Blaize Talagai to Penrith as “disappointing”.