There’s already support from some directors for Jason Ryles, the former Dragons prop who has served his coaching apprenticeship under Craig Bellamy at Melbourne, Eddie Jones in English rugby, and Trent Robinson at the Roosters, for whom he is currently contracted until the end of next year.

The Roosters are likely to let Ryles go early if the right job came along and after a grown-up discussion with Robinson. All parties are conscious about Adam O’Brien’s messy departure in September 2019 that angered chairman Nick Politis.

Like Craig Fitzgibbon and Cameron Ciraldo, Ryles is highly regarded but keeping his powder dry, waiting for the right job to come along.

Are the Dragons the right fit? Fitzgibbon knocked them back two years ago because he figured the rebuild was too large while Ciraldo was keen last year because of their vast junior nursery but the board wouldn’t entertain talking to him and stayed loyal to Griffin.

There’s also support for the return of Dean Young from the Cowboys and Ben Hornby from the Rabbitohs. Both are premiership winners, both are favourite sons, both coached under-20s and were assistant coaches before leaving to learn more about the coaching craft.

The nagging issue concerning all three is whether a rookie coach could take charge of such a volatile club with such an important rebuild ahead. As suggested in this space before, the club needs a head of football like Phil Gould.

With that in mind, expect a strong push for Des Hasler when the time comes. He knows how to get a club firing again.

The Dragons have started the last two seasons strongly under Griffin before fading badly in the second half of the year.

So, maybe that’s the question: how much longer can the Dragons accept mediocrity, starting strong and then finishing just outside the top eight?

Money talked, and Young walked

Winger Dominic Young’s decision to leave Newcastle to join the Roosters has devastated the Knights and cranked up the usual conspiracies about the tricolours and their salary cap.

The Knights’ offer was about $550,000 a year, which they thought would be more than enough to retain him. It’s been suggested to this column the Roosters’ deal reaches as much as $700,000 in the fourth and final year.

Right on cue, lightweight rugby league scribes tumbled in and penned “exclusive” online pieces about the Roosters’ aura and reputation being Young’s motivation.

What gibber. Simply, it was a better deal financially.

Cummins pile on is beyond the pale

Pat Cummins bashing has become a national pastime, which is entirely a matter for the individual, but the response from some readers when news broke he was returning home between Tests because of a family illness was putrid.

Cummins told Cricket Australia management before the tour he would need to return home during a 10-day break between the second and third Tests.

Many readers — including some from the Herald — thought they’d be cute and tell Cummins to not bother going back, along with a whole range of climate change gibber.

There’s been plenty of finger-pointing about Australia’s limited preparation for this series after its batting capitulation in both Tests.

The problem appears to be bigger than that. The fact there’s no clear alternative for the injured Dave Warner at the top of the batting order shows as much.

For decades, Australia had a production line of opening batsmen to choose for its Test team - but now?

Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft are possible replacements, but they’re hardly banging down the door. Travis Head is too valuable at No.5 but could be an option for the Ashes series later this year.

Joey spills on 2004 rugby dealings

Phil Gould has taken many swings at rugby union over the years, sometimes with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, so it was surprising to see him sit down one-on-one with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones for Stan (which is owned by Channel Nine, which owns this masthead, thanks for asking).

Stan was offered the first television interview with Jones after he signed with Rugby Australia but Jones did so much media before it happened producers were looking for a different angle.

Enter Gus, who has shed 30 kilograms in the off-season and looks like a different person.

The pair of old coaches riffed on a range of topics, including Jones rekindling the story of how close Andrew Johns went to signing with rugby in 2004.

This story has been told many times, often with a different spin. So, we went to Johns to finally clear the air.

“I was at Fordo’s place,” Johns said of his late manager, the indomitable John Fordham. “I told him, ‘Get the deal done with rugby’. I hadn’t made up my mind, but that’s the way I was leaning. I just wanted to get out of Newcastle. I wanted a change.”

Loading

The deal collapsed when Australian Rugby Union high-performance manager Brett Robinson pulled the offer, citing concerns about Johns’ troublesome knee.

“I think it was more because of my scallywag behaviour,” Johns laughs.

Some contractual gymnastics from the Great Fordo ensured Johns still received financial support from News Corp and Nine to stay in rugby league — even though the rugby deal was pulled.

Wayne says it all without saying a lot

Wayne Bennett was in no mood to talk at the launch of the Stan documentary Dawn of the Dolphins in Brisbane on Monday, eschewing the blue carpet and tape recorder-wielding reporters before finding safety among his players in a corner of the Palace Cinemas.

But he did have time to speak to Beau Ryan, the former Wests Tigers winger who works for the streaming service.

Before the 2010 preliminary final between the Tigers and Dragons, whom Bennett was coaching, Ryan jokingly said, “I can’t wait to get out there and towel them up.”

In the dying minutes of a gripping match, Ryan attempted a kick-and-chase that came to nothing. The Dragons won 13-12 then beat the Roosters in the grand final.

“Wayne is speaking today,” Ryan said on Monday. “He just thanked me for my kick.”

THE QUOTE
“It is the right thing to do — and you can’t run through a brick wall without getting bloody.” — Greg Norman doubles down on why he joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf. An alternative view is it’s the wrong thing to do because you can’t be a peaceful dissident in Saudi Arabia without getting executed.

THUMBS UP
In hindsight what were we — the fans, the experts, the bookies — thinking in dismissing St Helens’ chances against Penrith in the World Club Challenge? They were brilliant against the Penny Panthers, who had several players playing their first match since last year’s World Cup, winning 13-12 in golden point.

Loading

THUMBS DOWN
Few things numb the mind more than academics preaching their wisdom about sport but a media release from Monash University earlier this week revealing that NBA teams play better in front of home crowds is a doozy. Crowds, the researchers say, “inspire effort, distracts opponents, and influences referees.” Teams play better in front of home crowds: ground-breaking.

It’s a big weekend for … NRL players as they wade into the warm, mysterious waters of the last weekend of freedom before the season starts. Former NRL boss David Gallop often called this a “double demerit weekend”. Let’s hope we’re talking about football on Monday morning.

It’s an even bigger weekend for … the Waratahs, for Super Rugby, for rugby as a sport and way of life, as a new domestic competition fires up for another year. The Tahs meet the Brumbies at Allianz Stadium on Friday night with a crowd of 25,000 expected. Rugby won’t be “back” until it’s sold out.

Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.