When you’re talking about a kid who has scored nine tries in four starts,what other choice is there?
Rookie Reds winger Tim Ryan has scored nine tries in seven games and developed cult status as the "Junkyard Dog" in Brisbane.
Unknown to most outside of Brisbane club football at the start of the year,Ryan has emerged as the in the last three months,via scintillating form for the Reds.
The mayhem started with a memorable against the Blues in round 10,and Ryan has not stopped scoring since. He crossed twice against the Crusaders a week later,then once against the Rebels and after a tryless game off the bench against Fiji,bagged another hat-trick against the Force.
Ryan is the first Reds player in the professional era to score two hat-tricks in a season,and the first to do it since Brendan Moon in 1978.
The only thing matching Ryan’s try-scoring rate is his growing status as an old-fashioned cult hero.
Tim Ryan became just the second Reds player to score a hat-trick when he made his starting debut against the Blues.Getty
Nicknamed the “Junkyard Dog” by teammates,the rangy winger from the Brothers club has amassed a growing army of supporters;many of whom are seen at Reds games decked out in Junkyard Dog T-shirts.
Ryan’s form even has prompted speculation Joe Schmidt is considering the former Australian Under-20s player as a bolter in the Wallabies squad for the July Tests against Wales and Georgia.
It’s heady stuff,and the sort of rapid ascent that could easily give a rookie the bends. But Kiss – who knows all about – isn’t planning to take Ryan off the ride.
“It doesn’t make me nervous. I think if anyone’s going well enough to get some plaudits,that’s fine,” Kiss said.
“He’s focused on what he has to do now. It’s all coach talk,I know,but it is important for him to understand that.
“Young men can get swept up in this for sure,but he’s had a level head right from the beginning. Something tells me that he’s just going to keep doing the little things that he does well. He’s got a great capacity to listen and learn quickly.
“You’re not going to stop people saying he’s a possibility for higher honours,[and] that’s his ambition. But it’s about keeping him as grounded,as much as possible from our perspective,and he’s doing good job with that.
“There are some areas in his game that are still there[to work on] that he’s really aware of,but that doesn’t get in the way. He doesn’t overthink it. He still just does things,and what’s necessary in a moment,he still nails that.
Tim Ryan scores against the CrusadersGetty
“We need to make sure we don’t interfere with that process and he’s doing that well at the moment.”
Ryan is set to be named on the wing for the Reds in their final round clash against the Waratahs,even with Suli Vunivalu returning from suspension. But with the points inconsequential for both sides as far as the final ladder goes,Queensland are likely to hand NSW a final indignity by resting several key players.
The Reds can’t finish higher or lower than fifth,and the.
“Rest,management ... that’ll be interpreted however anyone wants to interpret it,” Kiss said. “But we’ll do some things that we’re always in the planning anyway,once we knew that we were definitely going to be in the finals.
“I’m not just saying because it’s easy to say,but it is probably the most important game in Australian rugby. Despite their situation,they have a lot to play for.”
Kiss said he felt for his friend Darren Coleman,who will be coaching his last game with the Waratahs.
“I know he’s a good man,a good coach and the boys will play for him this weekend,no doubt,” Kiss said.
“I know that I know they’re going to turn up Friday night,and he’s one of the reasons.
“We just need to make sure that coaches are resourced well in this country and to support it as best we can,in a way that we can all thrive.”
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