NSWRL was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of True Blue Trevor Ryan, aged 72.
The nephew of True Blue and former Kangaroos Test lock George Smith, Ryan was born in Bellingen but grew up in Nambucca Heads.
After being scouted by both Western Suburbs and Newtown, Ryan signed with Balmain where he made his first grade debut aged 17 in 1972.
He was appointed captain of the Tigers in 1975 and went on to claim a NSW jumper in Game Three of the 1978 Interstate series against Queensland. Starting in the second row, the Blues won 28-12 at Leichhardt Oval to secure a 3-0 series win.
After a Semi-final appearance against Eastern Suburbs in 1978, Ryan was persuaded to join the Jets where he played two seasons. He then joined the Magpies for a season but managed only two games due to a hamstring injury. Ryan did return at the end of the season and helped steer the club’s reserve grade side to a premiership win over Parramatta.
Ryan returned to the Tigers for one final season in 1982 and was appointed captain by coach Frank Stanton. Post-football, he worked with Rugby League Immortal Reg Gasnier in the flexible packaging business and coached in the Balmain and North Sydney competitions.
His son, Matt Ryan, played two seasons for Parramatta in 2012-13 before pursuing further opportunities in the English Super League. He returned to Australia to play in the Ron Massey Cup competition in 2017.
NSWRL passes on its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Trevor Ryan.
