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Kevin James Ryan, born 26 August 1934 in Ipswich, Queensland), is a former Australian state parliamentarian and local mayor, and a dual rugby league and rugby union international representative. Nicknamed 'Kandos' after the New South Wales cement producing town due to his toughness, Ryan was also a Queensland amateur boxing champion in 1958 and 1959, and trialled for the 1960 Olympics.
[edit] Dual international
He was a member of the Wallabies in five tests in 1958, debuting against England, then playing four further tests against the All Blacks, and the NZ Maori All Blacks.
He was a member of the Kangaroos in four tour matches on the 1963 tour of Great Britain. Along with Jim Lisle, Ryan made his international league debut in a tour match in England in 1963 but he did not play in any tests on the tour. Collectively he and Lisle were Australia's 29th and 30th dual code rugby internationals. He later represented Australia in two domestic tests against France in 1964.
[edit] St George career and playing style
He was a front rower or second row forward with the St. George Dragons in the latter half of their 11-year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He played 106 games for the club from 1960-1966, and played in seven winning grand finals.
Ryan took over the 'Hard Man' mantle in the St George forward pack from Billy Wilson. From 1960 to 1962 when Ryan, Wilson and Norm Provan played together the St George forward pack was formidable. Ryan perfected a ball-and-all, one-on-one tackling style. He disdained gang tackling believing it was his individual responsibility to bring his man down hard without help. He would leave the ground each time he tackled, often winding his opponent with his shoulder, then bringing them to ground wrapped up, ball included.[1]
[edit] Canterbury years
Ryan left St George at the end of the 1966 season unable to come to terms in negotiations and wanting to coach. [2]In 1967, as captain-coach, he led Canterbury in their 12-11 victory over St George in the preliminary final. He is therefore sometimes credited with bringing an end to the Dragons' premiership run. Certainly he was able to coach against and counter many of their tactics but the game had changed for all in 1967 with the introduction of the four tackle rule and the now maturing Dragons stars like all other teams in the competition, had to deal with a whole new style of game.
He led Canterbury to the 1967 Grand Final against South Sydney and was captain-coach at the club through to the middle of the 1969 season when he retired due to injury. He continued on as coach that year and for the 1970 season. He played 52 games for Canterbury, scoring five tries.
[edit] After football
After retiring from football, Ryan became a barrister in 1970, and was Mayor of the City of Hurstville from 1974 to 1976. He was elected as the Australian Labor Party member for Hurstville in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1976, defeating four-term Liberal MP Thomas Mead, and serving until 1984. He had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 1973.[3]
Ryan was President of the Rugby League Players Association for many years and a sports commentator with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1970 to 1973.
[edit] Accolades
In 2000 Ryan was awarded the Australian Sports Medal. In 2004 he was named at prop-forward for the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions On April 1, 2007 he was inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions.
[edit] Sources
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
- Writer, Larry (1995) Never Before, Never Again, Pan MacMillan, Sydney
- Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney
[edit] External links
Ipswich, Queensland
St George
Canterbury
NSW
