Good evening Rhinos' fans.
Having watched Ryan develop over the past three years at Leigh, the lad does have some excellent qualities. He has outstanding pace, an eye for the half chance, and is (has been?
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) a great lad, who has always been willing to learn,a nd to engage with the fans - especially the youngsters.
I believe he has earned a crack at Super League, through his excellent performances in the Championship. However, the problem for me is one of where would he fit into a SL team? He is definitely not (up to now) a playmaker. He is an opportunist, who is devastating at backing up, seizing interceptions etc, but has not yet been able to step up to the mark and dictate play. That may be because he has been operating alongside Martyn Ridyard, who is an outstanding playmaker - who, incidentally was injured for most of the Qualifiers, thus exposing Ryan to full responsibility at half back. Ryan wasn't the only one in our team who disappointed at the end of the season. Yesterday, we witnessed more in the way of play making, from young Lewis Charnock, (on loan from Saints) than we have in the last three games from Ryan. That's not meant to knock Ryan - it's just where he currently is in his development.
Apparently, Huddersfield had been considering Ryan for next season - suggesting he probably isn't yet a Rhinos player - as a full back. Other prominent critics consider that is where he would possibly be effective in SL. It's a position that would afford him opportunity and space, to showcase his qualities - but I can't think that you would be looking to him as a replacement for Zak Hardaker!
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