Peter Ryan (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Peter Ryan is an Australia
n former rugby league
and rugby union
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin
representative forward, he played ten seasons with the Brisbane Broncos
and finished his career playing rugby union for the ACT Brumbies.
Ryan attended Downlands College
in Toowoomba. After representing Australia in rugby union
as a schoolboy and playing for the Brisbane Rugby League premiership's Western Suburbs club
, Ryan moved to the Broncos in 1990
.
In the weeks following the Broncos' inaugural premiership win Ryan travelled with the club to England, where he played from the interchange bench in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against British champions Wigan
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain. A handy utility forward, the following season he was part of the Broncos' 1993 Winfield Cup triumph.
During the 1994 NSWRL season, Ryan played from the interchange bench for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
.
In 1997
Ryan debuted for Queensland and was named the Broncos' player of the year in a premiership-winning season, Ryan's second title with the club. Only a suspension, which ruled him out of the 1998 NRL grand final
, denied him the opportunity of winning a third premiership with the Broncos in 1998
.
At the end of 1999
, Ryan left the Broncos to play rugby union with the ACT Brumbies. Ryan was the first player in Australian football history to play in and win grand finals in the NRL and the Super 12, as it was then known.
During 2001's pre-season, Wendell Sailor
declared he was "leaning towards" switching codes from rugby league
to rugby union
following advice from former Broncos teammate Ryan.
Renowned during his playing days for his tough and uncompromising tackling technique, Ryan is currently a defensive coach for the North Queensland Cowboys
in the NRL. He has previously performed a similar role for both the Broncos and the Queensland Reds
rugby union team.
During the 2000s Ryan, who has been described by Craig Bellamy as "one of the most devastating defenders to have played the game", returned to the Brisbane Broncos
as a part-time defence coach.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
representative forward, he played ten seasons with the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and finished his career playing rugby union for the ACT Brumbies.
Ryan attended Downlands College
Downlands College
Downlands College, officially Downlands Sacred Heart College, is a private, secondary, coeducational, day and boarding school in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1931, the College began as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of...
in Toowoomba. After representing Australia in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
as a schoolboy and playing for the Brisbane Rugby League premiership's Western Suburbs club
Wests Panthers
The Western Suburbs Panthers, often simply referred to as Wests, are a rugby league club from Brisbane, Australia. The Club is the oldest in the QRL and despite absences from the top grade in recent years and several name changes the club continued to operate...
, Ryan moved to the Broncos in 1990
Brisbane Broncos 1990
The 1990 Brisbane Broncos season was the third in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRL's 1990 Winfield Cup premiership and again improved on their previous year, finishing the regular season in second position before going on to come within one match of the grand final, losing to eventual...
.
In the weeks following the Broncos' inaugural premiership win Ryan travelled with the club to England, where he played from the interchange bench in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain. A handy utility forward, the following season he was part of the Broncos' 1993 Winfield Cup triumph.
During the 1994 NSWRL season, Ryan played from the interchange bench for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
.
In 1997
Brisbane Broncos 1997
The 1997 Brisbane Broncos season was the tenth in the club's history. This season was unique in that they participated in the Australian Super League's 1997 Telstra Cup premiership and 1997 World Club Championship, winning both competitions.-Season summary:...
Ryan debuted for Queensland and was named the Broncos' player of the year in a premiership-winning season, Ryan's second title with the club. Only a suspension, which ruled him out of the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
, denied him the opportunity of winning a third premiership with the Broncos in 1998
Brisbane Broncos 1998
The 1998 Brisbane Broncos season was the eleventh in the club's history. They participated in the newly formed National Rugby League's 1998 premiership and posted their three biggest ever wins in rounds 5, 7 and 15 before capturing their fourth premiership in seven seasons.Broncos trio Allan...
.
At the end of 1999
Brisbane Broncos 1999
The 1999 Brisbane Broncos season was the twelfth in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 1999 premiership, reaching the finals but losing their first play-off match.-Season summary:...
, Ryan left the Broncos to play rugby union with the ACT Brumbies. Ryan was the first player in Australian football history to play in and win grand finals in the NRL and the Super 12, as it was then known.
During 2001's pre-season, Wendell Sailor
Wendell Sailor
Wendell Jermaine Sailor is an Australian former professional rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby...
declared he was "leaning towards" switching codes from rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
to rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
following advice from former Broncos teammate Ryan.
Renowned during his playing days for his tough and uncompromising tackling technique, Ryan is currently a defensive coach for the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in the NRL. He has previously performed a similar role for both the Broncos and the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
rugby union team.
During the 2000s Ryan, who has been described by Craig Bellamy as "one of the most devastating defenders to have played the game", returned to the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
as a part-time defence coach.