Yahoo Sport
Search query
Search
Sign in
Yahoo Sport Australia
Dragons fans left fuming after Mark Gasnier joins Jason Ryles and Zac Lomax at Parramatta
The Eels will have a heavy Dragons flavour under new coach Ryles in 2025.
Sam Goodwin
sam goodwin
Sports Editor
Sat, 23 Nov 2024, 3:19 pm GMT-8·3-min read
St George Illawarra fans have expressed their frustration and sadness after new Parramatta coach Jason Ryles snared Dragons legend Mark Gasnier to work on his staff at the Eels. Gasnier has joined Ryles and Zac Lomax in switching allegiances from the Dragons to Eels after years in the NRL wilderness.
Gasnier played 175 games for St George Illawarra, helping them win a drought-breaking premiership in 2010 when he return from a stint in French rugby. He worked in the media with Fox Sports after retiring at the end of 2011, but has been largely unsighted in rugby league circles for the last 10 years.
Add in the fact that Ryles played 156 games for the Dragons and there’s now a massive Red V flavour at Parramatta. Former Dragons player and coach Nathan Brown will also work with Ryles in 2025 as an assistant coach.
Mark Gasnier did some work with Fox Sports in 2013 but stepped out of the public eye after that. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Jason Ryles and Mark Gasnier’s close bond
Gasnier and Ryles are good mates and were best men at each others’ weddings. “I actually got him down to Melbourne (several seasons ago) when I was there as an assistant a couple of times and the boys were really receptive of his input,” Ryles told the Daily Telegraph of Gasnier.
“I always kept that in my mind, that if ever I was to get a job, I’d get him involved again. He’s been loving it. He enjoys coming in to work with the outside backs. He talks to them about their craft and breaks down the intricate parts of playing in the backs that I can’t pass on.
