The Dragons would need to offer Jason Ryles a long-term deal in order to get him to sign the dotted line as head coach.
As speculation over the future of incumbent Anthony Griffin continues, the Sydney Morning Herald reports the current Roosters assistant wants a five-year deal with full autonomy over his roster and assistants. Both the length of the contract and the level of control he is asking for are rarely considered for rookie coaches.
Ryles has also been linked to the top job at the Melbourne Storm, and his manager George Mimis is expected to meet with Storm officials this weekend.
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After finishing his playing career at the Storm, Ryles had stints as an assistant at the Storm under Craig Bellamy, and also in English rugby, where he worked under Eddie Jones.
Bellamy, however, has firmed in the past week to stay on for another season.
“I’m sick of thinking about it and I need to make a decision myself,” Bellamy told media this week.
“There’s been a couple of things that have happened that have made it a little bit more complicated.”
He is now contracted to Melbourne on a year-by-year basis and the club has essentially left it up to him to decide when he finishes up.
Much of the Dragons’ last two disappointing seasons have been underlined by talk of Griffin’s future at the club.
Off the back of five-straight losses – none by a margin of more than six points, and four by two points or less – the Dragons will head to Townsville on Saturday for a clash with the Cowboys.
While Ryles’ contract at the Roosters runs until the end of 2024, it’s understood they would release him for a head coaching role, although they may seek compensation.
Also in the Dragons’ sights are Ben Hornby, Dean Young as well as Des Hasler and Shane Flanagan.
Nine’s Danny Weidler last month said there was “some appetite” at Kogarah for a Des Hasler-Ben Hornby combination, not dissimilar to that seen at the Tigers.
He said the club’s policy of requiring a unanimous decision to hire a coach meant Flanagan was unlikely.
Ryles played 156 matches for the Dragons to the end of 2008, before moving to the Super League.
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