Ryan Matterson, the unsatisfied star of the Wests Tigers, met with Parramatta on Tuesday, potentially marking the beginning of an Eels reunion.
With two years remaining on his Tigers contract, Ryan has expressed his wish to leave the joint venture, although he has been granted permission to negotiate with other teams. It’s conceivable that the Tigers won’t release a player unless they receive payment in the form of cash or a player swap.
Strangely, Matterson and Brad Arthur had a brief falling out while Matterson was with the Eels, with the coach sending him back to the Ron Massey Cup. Since then, the two have patched things up, and Arthur missed Tuesday’s meeting because he was on vacation in Bali.
Although Matterson has a contract worth $775,000 for the next two seasons, he can get a lot more money on the open market considering that he was about to make his State of Origin debut. Clubs on the Gold Coast, Cronulla, Melbourne, and St George Illawarra are keeping a careful eye on the situation, and if Sam Burgess is pushed into an early retirement, South Sydney may become a suitor.
The Eels see Matterson as the perfect complement to a pack that will be strengthened by former Panther Regan Campbell-Gillard next season, and they are in a position to make an offer that isn’t dependent on moving or trading players.
Mitchell Moses is one player that can relate to Matterson. The Eels player left the Tigers under similar circumstances. He is currently in camp with the Australian team ahead of the two-day World Nines championship starting on Friday. Moses moved to Parramatta in search of a fresh start, even though he was still bound by contract. This year, he was rewarded with the Dally M halfback of the year award.
“I’d love to play with him,” said Moses, who played alongside Matterson at schoolboy level. “He’s been copping a fair bit of flak in the media, it’s not warranted. He’s getting flak from former teammates and things like that. He’s got to not look at that stuff.
“He’s a great player and really came out and played out of his skin this year. He’s worth whatever he’s trying to do. He’s a great player and whatever team picks him up, he’s a great pick up.
“If he leaves, I believe the Tigers will be losing a tremendously talented player. Until he comes out and explains what’s occurring, I am unable to speak for him or know what is going on. I would be happy to have him if that is our goal.
“He’s a class player and if the Tigers lose him, they are losing a good player.”
Matterson was excused from Tigers training for “personal reasons” while coach Michael Maguire continued to put his side through sessions during the playoffs. The former Rooster had been seeing a sports psychologist after struggling with work life at Concord.
“He’s a good bloke, I’ve known him for a while through school footy and all of those types of things, we’re the same age,” Moses said. “He’s a really good bloke, I get on with him really well.
“I don’t know what’s happening with Matto, I don’t know if he is unhappy or anything like that, I have no idea. I can’t really comment on what’s happening, but you’re copping it from everywhere.
“The best thing for him is to block it out and do the best thing for him.”
Moses’ teammates from the Eels and the Australian nines team, Nathan Brown and Clint Gutherson, were also unaware of Matterson’s meeting with the Parramatta hierarchy. However, they said a forward of his quality would be a welcome addition to any side.
“He’s also had a couple of successful years, winning a comp with the Roosters and having a good year with the Tigers,” Brown said. “He’s a good player and he would be great for any side. If he comes over, that would be good.”
Gutherson added: “I had one preseason with him [at Parramatta] and then he went to the Roosters the next year.
“I was his roomie for Origin, that’s it. I’ve got nothing to do with recruitment or anything like that, but I’ve seen his name dragged around the papers the last two or three months.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. You just want to see players be happy and I guess he’s not happy at the Tigers.”
