The Tigers family is mourning the loss of former premiership winning forward Sid Ryan. Ryan played 104 first grade games for Balmain Tigers between 1943 and 1951, winning first grade premierships with the Tigers in 1944 and 1947\. In 1947 he formed a second row combination with the great Harry Bath, in what many people consider to be the greatest ever Balmain Tigers team.
Ryan was also a representative player and represented City against Country.
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Ryan embarked on a successful coaching career with both Balmain and St George, and he then had a lengthy appointment as a selector of representative teams including the City, New South Wales and Australian teams.
Sid Ryan was a life member of the Balmain Tigers football Club, a life member of the Balmain Leagues Club and a member of the Balmain Tigers Hall of Fame. He was a member of the first ever Board of Directors for the Balmain Leagues Club.
Balmain Tigers Chairman David Trodden said “Sid Ryan was not only one of the great players to have played with our Club, but he was one of those great characters upon which the culture of the Club was built. He was our oldest living first grade player and his loss will be sorely felt. He typified everything that is Balmain Tigers.”
Sid Ryan passed away today at Ryde after a short illness.
