Who is Ryan Carr? The former Rabbitoh who is now coach of the Dragons

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More than a decade ago, South Sydney needed to settle on a halfback to replace Chris Sandow.

One of those youngsters in the mix was local junior Adam Reynolds, who went on to win a premiership with Souths in 2014 and played State of Origin for NSW.

The other candidate was Ryan Carr.

Carr, 34, has now become the caretaker coach at St George Illawarra the remainder of the year, and while he lost the halfback shootout to one of the best playmakers in the game all those years ago, showed signs then he had the makings of a coach.

“It was me or him who was going to get Chrissy’s spot, and I probably have him to thank for pushing me along the way [that summer],” Reynolds said.

“We tried to get the best out of one another, and I was the lucky one to get the call-up. He could have easily been in the position I’m in.

Ryan Carr will be the caretaker coach the remainder of the 2023 season at St George Illawarra.Credit: NRL

“Because he was a student of the game, and someone who had great ideas when he was coming through, it doesn’t surprise me he’s ended up coaching as early as he did.

“He’s worked extremely hard. He’s passionate about coaching. And he’s now got an opportunity to do something he’s dreamed about.”

Carr is set to lead the Dragons for the next 14 games now Anthony Griffin has left the building. Friday’s clash comes against the Sydney Roosters and coach Trent Robinson, whom Carr worked under with France at last year’s World Cup.

After never realising his NRL dream at Souths, Carr coached the club’s under-20s, including Jordan Mailata, the powerhouse prop who went on to play in this year’s Super Bowl with Philadelphia.

Carr spent time working in the lower grades at Canberra before he took up a head-coaching role in England with Featherstone.

Carr returned home to spend three years with Parramatta before taking up the Dragons post.

As a player Carr had captained North Queensland’s under-20s in 2008 and spent time at halfback for the Redcliffe Dolphins, before becoming the Rabbitohs’ NYC coach at age 27.

In a video with the Dragons before Christmas, he said: “I spoke with ‘Hook’ [Griffin] in depth before coming here how there’s a real big opportunity at this club, there’s untapped potential, a really young squad, and I can see a lot of improvement in them, and they can, too, which is good.”

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