He's still at the peak of his playing powers but Salford’s Ryan Brierley has revealed he would love to one day have an even greater impact on the sport.
The Red Devils ace, 31, is preparing to try and light up Super League again in 2024. But the lightning quick full-back is always thinking further ahead. He set up his own player management company a few years ago and has a raft of women’s football talent on his books including Man City and England Lionesses star Jess Park.
However, Brierley’s main love is rugby league and he wants to take what he’s learned from women’s football to help promote it better. He said: “I love the punditry work and Sky Sports but I’d love to be part of the governing body when I do retire. I want to use my experiences to help the RFL.
"I do think I could offer some value to them and - from a players’ point of view - help show how the girls do it in women’s football. When I started on this journey three years ago, rugby league was a much bigger sport than women’s football. But in three years, on the back of winning the Euros, the girls have just seen their commercial value rocket into a different world. I’ve seen how they've done it and would like to help the RFL. I always say we need to make more of our stars so we can be bigger and better.”
Brierley had Park announce his new three-year deal on social media last month. Such sports crossover is something rugby league’s strategic partner IMG is keen on as it looks to enhance the game. On the field, however, Brierley knows Salford might have it tougher in 2024 after seeing so much of their star quality moved on to ease financial issues.
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He said: “I think a sense of realism has to hit us square in the face. Last season we spoke about trophies and building towards one because of the year we’d had before. But when you lose two England internationals in Tyler (Dupree) and Andy Ackers and then a Man of Steel in Brodie Croft, I just think your expectation has to be calmed a bit.
Brierley gets to grips with Hull KR's Ryan Hall (PA)“What we’ve probably got to do is make strides off the field. I think we’ve got the best coach in Paul Rowley and a great squad of players but having to sell a few players means we probably need to start the rebuild again.”
Brierley added: “I’m proud to play for Salford every day. It’s my family’s hometown club. It’s a real honour to play for them. But I do just think we need to take a few steps back to build again. It might be three to five years on the field.
“But with the money generated from player sales, I think we can really hone in on making off-the-field stuff - commercial, hospitality, sponsorship endorsements - making things bigger. There can be no excuses off the field. People are in place now.”
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