Recently Featherstone Rovers confirmed the departure of Ryley Jacks after the departure of Morgan Smith to Wakefield Trinity.
It was confirmed this week that Jacks would be returning to the club he started his career at the Eastern Suburbs Tigers.
However, it was also revealed that Jacks was supposed to join the club in 2022 but was allowed to back out of the move to take on an opportunity in England, a life long ambition especially to work under former Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott.
Jacks thanked the club for allowing him to take on this chance: “I’m very grateful that Brian Torpy (CEO) and the Club let me go over to the UK and play with Featherstone.
“I always wanted to go play in England.
“It was a really enjoyable experience on and off the field with my young family.
“I’ve come back feeling refreshed and look at the game differently now, having been coached by one of England’s best coaches in Brian McDermott.
Jacks played for a number of clubs in Australia including the Melbourne Storm where he battled with Salford Red Devils halfback Brodie Croft over the number seven shirt and the position of heir to Cooper Cronk.
Jacks would have been a superb Super League halfback which is perhaps why he postponed the move to Easts to see whether he could steer Featherstone to Super League and keep them there. In the end it wasn’t to be.
