The family ties which kept ‘Junkyard Dog’ from rugby league’s clutches
Tim Ryan, a rising star in rugby union, has firmly stated that he has no interest in pursuing a career in rugby league despite his upbringing in the sport. The Queensland Reds winger, known as 'The Junkyard Dog', was drawn to rugby union after the Reds expressed interest during his high school years. Ryan has since made a significant impact in Super Rugby, catching the attention of the Wallabies coach.
- ▪Tim Ryan grew up playing rugby league but chose to pursue a career in rugby union.
- ▪He made his Super Rugby debut in 2024, scoring a hat-trick against the Blues.
- ▪Ryan has expressed no interest in switching codes to rugby league.
- ▪He has gained 10kg since his disappointing 2025 season, where he scored only twice.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.