Name Martin Ryan Role Rugby league | Died January 13, 2003 Height 1.78 m | |
Martin Ryan (28 August 1923 – 13 January 2003) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, and 1950s, playing at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Wigan, as a fullback, or centre.
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Ryan is credited with redefining the role of fullback from being a purely defensive role to one requiring counter-attacking skills.
Club career
A one club man Ryan made his début for Wigan at centre and scored a try in the 21–0 victory over Oldham at Watersheddings, Oldham on Saturday 21 September 1940. His 300th and last match was the 2–15 defeat by Workington Town at Borough Park, Workington on Saturday 20 September 1952. His last try for Wigan was scored during the 13–6 victory over Bradford Northern in the Championship Final during the 1951–52 season at Leeds Road, Huddersfield on Saturday 10 May 1952.
In the early part of his career Ryan played mostly at centre but from 1945 onwards played primarily at fullback. Ryan appeared in five consecutive Lancashire Cup finals between 1946 and 1950, appearing on the winning side in four. The only defeat was the first, a 3–7 defeat by Widnes in the 1945 final at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 27 October 1945. The next four were victories; 9–3 over Belle Vue Rangers in the 1946 final at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 26 October 1946,, a 10–7 victory over Belle Vue Rangers in 1947 at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 1 November 1947, a 14–8 victory over Warrington in 1948at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 13 November 1948, and a 20–7 victory over Leigh in 1949 at Wilderspool on Saturday 29 October 1949.
In 1948 Ryan played fullback in Wigan's 8–3 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1948 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1948.
A shoulder injury ended Ryan's playing career when aged only 30. Ryan returned to Wigan as a director of the club in later years. Outside of rugby league Ryan worked in the brewing industry for the Burtonwood Brewery.
International honours
Ryan was first capped for England in 1943 against Wales and went on to appear for England a further 10 times; in 1945 against Wales, in 1946 against France (2 matches), and Wales, in 1947 against Wales (2 matches), in 1948 against France (2 matches), in 1949 against France (2 matches), in 1950 against Wales,
Ryan was selected to tour Australia and New Zealand as part of the 1946 Great Britain Lions tour squad but only played in four non-test games before a hernia and subsequent surgery ruled him out of the rest of the tour. His first cap came against New Zealand in 1947 as was followed by two caps against Australia in 948 and a final cap against Australia in 1948.
Relatives
Ryan's younger brother Andrew played for Warrington during the 1949–50 season.