Ryles glad to be free from fickle fans

Fans can be fickle at the best of times, and new Sydney Roosters recruit Jason Ryles certainly knows it from his time at St George.

Ryles, 31, returns to the NRL for 2010 after a season in Super League with Catalans.

Prior to his move north, Ryles made more than 156 appearances for St George Illawarra, earning 12 caps for the Kangaroos and making 15 appearances for New South Wales.

However, his time with St George ended in sour fashion, and Ryles has told Australian magazine Rugby League Week about his treatment at the hands of their fans.

“I copped an absolute pizzling, you know what I mean?” he says. “Saints fans, they want to win a comp and it’s been a long time.

“They’ve all got their websites and they all get on there and as soon as you lose a game they’re into you and they just look for a scapegoat.

“People forget that in my last  three years at the Dragons I got player of the year, come second, got player of the year and yet was still the most criticised bloke in the team.

“Work that out. After Trent (Barrett) left, there was only me and Browny (Nathan Brown) left to bag.

“God help them if they don’t win the comp this year.”