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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    • Tigers are full of shit. He doesn't want to be there because it's the tigers. 

    • It's a risk no doubt

    • Definitely EE! So long as we don’t call ‘woe is us’ if Sivo Lane Reed or Dylan are keen on not honouring their respective contracts for same reasons...bad juju.

      • Macy, I doubt that the club will go the woe path, there has been nothin let out from the club in regards to who, if any of the 7 off contract players are to be re-signed, I would also suggest that the coach has said who he wants to keep, again if any of them, but also indicated who he wants brought in.

        There has already been talk of the club in talks with Dbrown, Lane, Mahoney, & Sivo to extend their contracts for 2021 and beyond, its also likely they will get upgrades for next year as well.  

        While I don't like this barter set up with players, coaches and the like wanting out of a club while still contracted, no different to them who sign elsewhere, like will happen after November 1 this year when the feral pig breakfast dates will come in with players able to sign with other clubs beyond 2020, how many of them really will give their best at their current club knowing they are not staying there beyond next year?

        Once the 9's are over, there will be a lot of noise to come in this regard. Matto is not the only player who has and is in this position, Frizell has been making noises, likewise the uncertainties with Arrow, even the Broncs hard youngun's. Is it any different with the clubs themselves when they go out into the media world talking about the need to release top players, such as JWH, the Sharks with Dugan and Fifita. similar in Mexico with talks on about some players to be released and to look elsewhere, even though they are on contract.

  •  tears of a rapper

  • Parramatta are renowned for letting juniors go and then buying them back for premium later on.  

    • Like who 

      • Most recently Mitchell Moses, we let him go as a junior then signed him for $700,000 a season at the time I think in 2017.  As Mick said, Jason Bell and David Penna.  Willie Tonga was also another famous one.  We sold him and then the next year he represented Queensland and won a premiership with Canterbury.  Then we bought him back years later as damaged goods.

        • We let Tonga go because we had to choose between him and Jamie Lyon. We extended Lyon, released Tonga and then Lyon walked.

          • People always seem to forget that. 

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