Opportunities to coach your own team do not come up everyday so Jason Ryles is looking to make the most of it.
The Storm assistant coach has been handed the reigns of the Auckland Nines team this weekend.
Ryles, who is entering his second season as the team’s forwards coach, will take control of the side while Craig Bellamy will also be in attendance to oversee the games.
For the previous two years Bellamy had relinquished the Nines coaching duties to his other assistant Adam O’Brien.
O’Brien will this year instead coach the 13-on-13 trial match against the New Zealand Warriors on the Sunshine Coast the following weekend.
Get your tickets to see Storm on the Sunny coast!
However for now the focus remains on the Nines and Ryles is looking forward to taking another step forward in his coaching development.
“I am fortunate enough to have Craig let me coach a team,” Ryles said.
“There is certainly a lot of planning, preparation and making sure that the boys know what to expect pretty much.
“Obviously you can’t plan too much for Nines because it is so fast and hectic, chaotic is probably a good word for it.
“There is going to be a fair bit happening in and around the games so it is my job to make sure they are as calm as possible.”
Storm have been drawn in the Rangitoto pool for the Auckland Nines against the Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos.
