Matterson meets with Eels over potential switch.

Disgruntled Wests Tigers star Ryan Matterson has met with Parramatta as he explores a possible homecoming to his junior club.

Matterson was given permission to negotiate with other clubs late last month and is expected to turn out in rival colours next year despite having two seasons to run on his current Tigers deal.

NRL.com understands that Matterson met with Eels officials on Tuesday and is also scheduled to fly to the Gold Coast and meet incoming Titans coach Justin Holbrook next week.Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is on holidays and was not present at Tuesday's meeting, but both parties remain open to pursuing a possible move for Matterson back into the Blue and Gold.

The Tigers though have stressed they won't release the rising back-rower unless they also benefit from the deal.

Whether that involves a player swap or financial compensation has been discussed at Concord, but the Tigers hard-line stance looms as a significant hurdle for clubs pursuing the 25-year-old

Both the Eels and Wests Tigers are yet to make an official announcement on the matter.

Retiring Wests Tigers icon Robbie Farah described Matterson's dispute with the club as "beyond the point of return" last week, with the Tigers keen to have Matterson's future sorted before the next rugby league financial year begins on November 1.

Matterson is slated to earn around $350,000 next year under his Tigers deal, but would be able to earn a bigger payday elsewhere given his rise to NSW Origin 18th man honours this year.

Parramatta have identified Matterson as a potential back-row target having already beefed up their forward pack by securing Reagan Campbell-Gillard from Penrith.

Matterson started out as an Eels junior and captained their under 20s team as a halfback, but fell out with Arthur over the coach's push for him to play in the forwards.

The pair have since resolved their differences, though it was Holbrook who proved instrumental in taking Matterson across town to the Roosters in 2016.

Holbrook guided St Helens to his first Super League title last weekend in his farewell to the English powerhouse, and is set to take charge at the Titans in the coming days

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    • Salmon would be the player I'd suggest they'd want, Benji is going around for another year, but Jaemon could learn from him for a year and then step in. It would also give the Tigers cap space.

      Win win for both teams.

      • Mate that sounds a bit fishy to me.

  • This reply was deleted.
    • Friz is still contracted and if you truly wanted him, the Dragons would ask for one of our big guns ( ie. Guth, Moses, N Brown etc) in exchange. They do have cap space via Widdop leaving and De Belin out indefinately.

      • De Belin is still getting paid

        • Bit rough on Saints if DeBelin is still included in cap though. 

    • Yer these been a bit of chatter about frizzle. I spoke to a reliable source who used to work in peter Wynn sports store that could be in the blue and cold come nov, or roosters at a lower price

    • This is a no contest. Frizelle is an absolute weapon. If we could get him we'd be serious contenders.

    • Friz is staying at the Dragons - He'll likely leave once his contract is up with them. 

  • Just placing it out there.  Matterson left because he chased the dollars and also didn't agree with BA saying he was a forward, when he wanted to be a back.  Now at the Tigers and complaining he wants more money than he and his manager signed on the dotted line for and according to reports because he didn't like being asked to play with injuries at the Tigers.  Is it just me, or does anyone else see an issue here?  We want to bring this attitude back to the Club when it is attempting to chnage the culture?

     

    • EE, that aspect in regard to Matto and with BA who saw him as a back rower but Matto wanted to play in the halves, has gone around a bit, thing is he was used as a 5/8 at chooks at times but he primarilly played in the forwards, given that Robinson was coach when he went to the chooks he would have received a similar message that he was seen more as a forward than in the halves, and that's been proven or verified by 3 NRL coaches now, which I would suggest Matto has to accept that fact for his future.

      If he was being asked to play with injuries it shows that the Tigs coach has an issue with what overal playing roster he has, did he see that an injured Matto was a better option than a fit other player? and what was the clubs medico's call on that? IMHO that is not a good call at all,  How bad was his injuries that caused that coaches call?  

      The report above in the 2nd and 3rd last paragraphs I would suggest dispels much of the concerns regarding his attitude 

      Matterson started out as an Eels junior and captained their under 20s team as a halfback, but fell out with Arthur over the coach's push for him to play in the forwards.

      The pair have since resolved their differences, though it was Holbrook who proved instrumental in taking Matterson across town to the Roosters in 2016.

This reply was deleted.

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