Profession: AFL player (Sydney Swans).
Signature dish: home made pasta with bolognaise sauce.
As an AFL player, Ryan is used to a fast-paced work environment and thinking on his feet, but will he be as competitive in the kitchen?
"I am a sportsman so I have to win everything. I think I’m a good cook and I'm very proficient in what I cook. My strength is that I make healthy meals that taste good, and I know what works together. I cook with instinct. I guess my weakness would be my technique in some areas and I probably need to expand my knowledge."
Moving out of home when he was 18, Ryan has been cooking for himself ever since.
"I'm mainly a self-taught cook, but I've had a few cooking classes at the seafood markets along the way. Also when I first moved to Sydney the football club made us do a couple of cooking classes."
"When you move out of home as a teenager you need to learn quickly how to cook or you will end up eating a lot take away. I have always loved eating food, and if you ask anyone who knows me I have a very good appetite. So when I started cooking for myself I got more into the complexities of food. Also I don’t like cheap crappy food so that made me want to get better as a cook."
Ryan cooks most days, except when he's away during the football season, and he cooks different food depending on the season.
"I have cooked many different things lately and I enjoy cooking with the seasons so at the moment I'm making stews, braises, and roasts."
His first memory of cooking is making a chocolate pudding with his Mum, and Ryan's signature dish is another family favourite.
"Even though it is basic, my signature dish would be my home made pasta with bolognaise sauce. Everything is made from scratch. It is the meal that I have the night before every game, so it is on the menu at home every week during the season."
His timing in the kitchen is his biggest strength, and a competent cook, Ryan isn't concerned about entering the MasterChef kitchen.
"I'm calm and relaxed in the kitchen as it is something I enjoy. It’s a real release for me. I've cooked on TV before, so I think I'm going to be fine."
