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Guest
Guest
Ryan squares off with house mate as he tries to tame Tigers
August 3, 2012
Glenn Jackson
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THE curious part about Matt Ryan's departure from Wests Tigers to Parramatta last year is that, right now, the injury-hit Tigers could do with a player like him. But Ryan left, has forged an NRL career with the Eels, and is now looking to drive a nail into his former club's coffin.
Ryan will not only face his former club, but also his current house mate. Ryan, one of the bright spots in Parramatta's season, lives with Tigers fullback Tim Moltzen.
Before Ryan's second match-up with Moltzen, and his former club, it has been reinforced that Ryan is more a Tiger than many at the Tigers. He played with North Ryde Hawks from the age of eight, represented Balmain through the juniors, while watching the senior club play at Leichhardt Oval. But he could never reach the top level himself.
Despite being good enough to play premier league for Balmain in the same year he played SG Ball, he felt his opportunities lay elsewhere.
The Tigers had a bulging back row, and Ryan was feeling squeezed out last year.
''I didn't get into the full-time training and Parramatta gave me an opportunity to go across there and be coached by Mooks (former coach Stephen Kearney),'' Ryan said. ''I couldn't say no. I always knew, in the back of my mind, that I was never really in [the Tigers'] plans. They had a good quality back row there. Nothing against the club, but I just had to go somewhere for a challenge, and change my attitude a bit.
''I thought I might be holding myself back if I stayed.''
Moltzen, who had met Ryan after leaving school and joining the Tigers under the club's apprenticeship scheme, which also included Blake Ayshford and Ben Te'o, in 2007, said he knew his mate needed a change.
''He had a pretty bright future, but it never really happened for him,'' Moltzen said. ''He never really found a position.''
Moltzen knows that Ryan will save a bit extra for Monday night. Precedent tells him so; Ryan's first match against the Tigers, his second NRL match, announced him as a talent.
''He ended up getting their man of the match and scoring a try. I'm sure he'll be pumped for Monday night,'' Moltzen said.
The clash includes the prospect of two house mates again becoming enemies for the night. Ryan admitted he ''gave [Moltzen] a bit extra'', and ''did try to get under his skin'' in round eight. ''I know what annoys him,'' the 24-year-old said.
Possibly to make that point, he needled Moltzen a little by stating: ''They're under a lot more pressure than we are. We want to try and disrupt their season.''
Having said that, the pair insist they respect each others' pre-match routines. Moltzen will probably stay in his bedroom, which has Foxtel installed, while Ryan can have the lounge. ''I'll hear the front door shut and I dare say that'll be him leaving,'' Moltzen said. ''It is a bit strange. At the start of the week, it's just normal, but when it gets a little bit closer, you think about the fact we're coming up against each other the next night. We'll switch on for the game … but then we'll probably drive home together afterwards.''
August 3, 2012
Glenn Jackson
\
\
THE curious part about Matt Ryan's departure from Wests Tigers to Parramatta last year is that, right now, the injury-hit Tigers could do with a player like him. But Ryan left, has forged an NRL career with the Eels, and is now looking to drive a nail into his former club's coffin.
Ryan will not only face his former club, but also his current house mate. Ryan, one of the bright spots in Parramatta's season, lives with Tigers fullback Tim Moltzen.
Before Ryan's second match-up with Moltzen, and his former club, it has been reinforced that Ryan is more a Tiger than many at the Tigers. He played with North Ryde Hawks from the age of eight, represented Balmain through the juniors, while watching the senior club play at Leichhardt Oval. But he could never reach the top level himself.
Despite being good enough to play premier league for Balmain in the same year he played SG Ball, he felt his opportunities lay elsewhere.
The Tigers had a bulging back row, and Ryan was feeling squeezed out last year.
''I didn't get into the full-time training and Parramatta gave me an opportunity to go across there and be coached by Mooks (former coach Stephen Kearney),'' Ryan said. ''I couldn't say no. I always knew, in the back of my mind, that I was never really in [the Tigers'] plans. They had a good quality back row there. Nothing against the club, but I just had to go somewhere for a challenge, and change my attitude a bit.
''I thought I might be holding myself back if I stayed.''
Moltzen, who had met Ryan after leaving school and joining the Tigers under the club's apprenticeship scheme, which also included Blake Ayshford and Ben Te'o, in 2007, said he knew his mate needed a change.
''He had a pretty bright future, but it never really happened for him,'' Moltzen said. ''He never really found a position.''
Moltzen knows that Ryan will save a bit extra for Monday night. Precedent tells him so; Ryan's first match against the Tigers, his second NRL match, announced him as a talent.
''He ended up getting their man of the match and scoring a try. I'm sure he'll be pumped for Monday night,'' Moltzen said.
The clash includes the prospect of two house mates again becoming enemies for the night. Ryan admitted he ''gave [Moltzen] a bit extra'', and ''did try to get under his skin'' in round eight. ''I know what annoys him,'' the 24-year-old said.
Possibly to make that point, he needled Moltzen a little by stating: ''They're under a lot more pressure than we are. We want to try and disrupt their season.''
Having said that, the pair insist they respect each others' pre-match routines. Moltzen will probably stay in his bedroom, which has Foxtel installed, while Ryan can have the lounge. ''I'll hear the front door shut and I dare say that'll be him leaving,'' Moltzen said. ''It is a bit strange. At the start of the week, it's just normal, but when it gets a little bit closer, you think about the fact we're coming up against each other the next night. We'll switch on for the game … but then we'll probably drive home together afterwards.''
