Andrew Ryan

Andrew Ryan (born 2 December 1978, Dubbo, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football in the National Rugby League for the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, winning the 2004 NRL premiership with the club and becoming their captain. Playing career A Dubbo High School, St. Johns Dubbo and Emu Plains JRLFC junior, Ryan made his debut for the Parramatta Eels against the Brisbane Broncos at Parramatta Stadium in round 2 of the 2000 NRL season. Ryan played in the club's preliminary final defeat against the Brisbane Broncos in the same year. He was named the 2000 Parramatta Eels season's rookie of the year. In the 2001 NRL season, Ryan made 24 appearances as Parramatta finished as runaway Minor Premiers after one of the most dominant seasons in the modern era where the club set numerous point scoring records. Ryan played from the interchange bench for Parramatta in their shock 2001 NRL grand final loss to the Newcastle Knights. After three seasons with the Parramatta Eels, the club was unable to retain Ryan due to the salary cap and the man known as 'Bobcat' accepted a deal to join arch-rivals the Canterbury-Bankstown for the 2003 NRL season.