Canterbury are not the only club eyeing Ryan Matterson, apparently a host of other clubs are eyeing him also. Now, question i have is, are Parramatta shopping him in order to get a back worthwhile to what they want? I do like Matterson as a player, many here would love to keep him as would i, though Matto is a luxary at the moment for our forwards, we are in dire need of backs and backs with speed.
Now if Matterson is to leave, compensation will be applied to where he goes. Now which teams could want him? St. George Illawarra are a prime candidate due to their forwards being average and old. Matto will give their forwards energy, though issue is there are no backs that Dragons would let go that are worth our while. Another club that Matterson would be handy for is Melbourne who need forwards to replace the Bromwich brothers and Kaufusi. Olam would be the name they would present, but a 30 year old Centre with injury and defensive issues? No thanks. Only player that i could think that is realistic, only minsculy, is Papenhuyzen, even then doesn't help us as we need Wingers and Centres. Another is Gold Coast, Jayden Campbell will be the one we want, but with GC being top heavy with backs and a new coach they more likely will give up a winger or Centre. Could they give us 2 backs? Perhaps. We do like Schoupp, he would be a nice option but only if thrown in with another player. Keano Kini could be a tough get but could get done if we give him a Centre spot and full-time FG. GC have no top 30 spots left so they would look to move on some dead wood to make some moves. One final team i could see is Newcastle who need back-rowers, they just lost Young so they would not let backs go so a lot harder for them to get Matterson.
It seems Matterson is getting shopped in a chance to get a decent back. Could the suspension issue have nudged BA the wrong way and just tolerated him for the year to move him on next? Or is it he is a luxary we can afford to lose with some decent forwards coming through in lower grades to make up the numbers including Moretti showing great form. I am fascinated to see what this turns into, if it turns into anything at all.
https://www.zerotackle.com/ryan-matterson-on-more-than-just-bulldogs-radar-164528/
Replies
We do not want Aaron Shoupp, there's a reason the dogs wanted him gone, I won't mention it here.
On a different note was it Kenny Edwards at the Eels that was getting other players to do his drug tests?
I'm just saying we tried to get him before 2023 and then again mid 2023.
Ive heard he's a decent "I am" and rubs players the wrong way.
Bup do you know I'd Jeral Skelton is potentially looking to leave the Dogs?
Haven't heard that mate.
Thanks Bup.
Shoups defence is poor, he is the last thing we need. If there's other issues as you mention also Bup, hopefully he's not one we pursue any further.
And yep, Kenny used Kaysa Pritchard for his test as the story went.
LB, If we are really looking at trading Matto, it would need to be for an very good to elite centre or winger imo.
Matto may be surplus in our squad, personally don't believe that's the case but if he is, he's still a very valuable & unique forward in other packs.
Matto should equal a rep level outside back or serious up and coming talent, he'd be a big loss.
Not saying Matterson is surplus, he is a luxary. In the sense that he is a good player who can start at most teams but relegated to the bench due to Hopgood. Making our bench better. Though our bench is not too bad, i would rather it be weakened to strengthen our backs.
I think your last sentence is exactly the plan, dangling the bait and see what they could get out of it. Parramatta would keep Matterson happily if they cannot get a proper trade, but if they get one they like they would happily go for it.
LB I thought our Rd 26 forward lineup against the Panthers was probably our best of the season.
In that game if I recall Hopgood started off the bench with Paulo and Lane. Joe O started at Lock and Matto on the Edge.
I thought that worked well and would like to see more of that in 2024. Probably a fit Lane would go back to the Edge and Matto to the bench.
The way I see it starting or off the bench Matto is critical to the Eels success.
Junior was on the bench too. Look if we keep Matto then great no issues, we can still get a good winger and Centre with what is left. But i am also not against giving up Matto for a classy Centre or Winger.
Matterson as a bench rotation is big, but Ofa can fill that role and Grieg also getting bigger minutes.
I agree with NOS, Matterson is not a luxury we can give up, Parra has no luxuries. I would prefer to get rid of 3 "logs" than give up Matterson, I would play him in the centres in preference to some of the dunces we have talked about. If we wanted to be mediocre then getting rid of players like Matto will help.
Your argument is that we swap him for a back, Matterson is an origin level player, uinless your talking an equivalent then we would be going backwards. Through last season I would have Matto consistently among our top 3 forwards, regardless where he starts.
Finally LB I know you write these blogs for discussion, but it seems you may have an agenda or the hope of getting it right ......I don't trust the journalists that write this shit because they then get people on social media developing the idea and then creating the discussion.....the next thing it is a talked about as a reality and then it dies a natural death. The journalist's move on justifying some credibility but actually having none. WE have a number of people on here that are leaked this type of shit and they are wrong 95% of the time....just think about the rumours you read. Don't put yourself in that group.
Finally lets get the player/s we want first and worry how we can pay for him later. That's obviously what Gould does from the dogs perspective. Most people on social media have no idea how the commercial world works.
NB Maybe our board comes a little into that category as well.
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