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"On the Ref: Todd Smith is the ref and according to NRL Operations, Todd Smith has referred 57 macthes as a touch judge since 2019 but only two as head referee. Smith debuted as head referee in Round 17 of 2019 and his next head referee gig was Round…"
"Bit like my opinion of Ben Smith maybe ...better back rower than centre?"
"Just watched the highlight video, where has that been for Years and Years and Years - why did he not stay there - just lazy too in the NRL"
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To be fair, no one tried to force him out. Melbourne put an offer on the table and he knocked it back.
Gawd please drop the matterson dumping talk to Melb Parra! Why let this talk sully our win. The continued talks to persue dumping Matto vibe, detracts from our great outcome. Just wear the 400k loss please. It's to melbs advantage only to keep it going makes us look a touch contradictory :(
In a way, i'm glad a deal didn't get done. If it did, i think the feeling would have been that we lost & succumbed to pressure from the Storm & NRL as we wouldn't have gained that much. $400K is not really that much to carry for this year. This way, the whole narative changes, we now have most pundits & supporters seeing this as a win for the game & restored some faith in the value of contracts. I also think we have seen the effects straight away with the Warriors, they let Dylan Walker come to us on compassionate grounds because their just good guys, but they saw our case & thought, hang on, we can do that too, now they're demanding a player in return for Barnett
As much as PVL wanted Lomax to be in the NRL, i think this outcome is a lot better for the game with everyone, not just Parra fans, regaining more faith in the integrity.
I see your point Hammer and it's a noble one.
Maybe we can hand Matto over to the Warriors for Barnett? I mean, NZ is such a lovely place, Melbourne is, well, Melbourne...Matto can learn how to do the Haka as well.
Was there any player swap included? Or was it just Matterson and the 💰💰? Can't see how that would help Parra except finally getting rid of Matterson but the the Storm get Lomax a current rep and state of origin player. So what benefit is that? Don't blame Matterson for saying no to Melbourne cheats
It immediately frees up 400K of cap space.
I just don't get Ryan Matterson. Let's be frank. He is 6'2 and 105kg, and it's basically all lean muscle judging by his modelling/training photos. He also has some 5/8 skills, playing juniors and lower grades in the halves or centres (helping account for his offloading, late footwork at line and some speed for a big unit). Physically, Matterson should be bashing down the door of selection in first grade. Big enough to play middle or edge, skillful enough to help out in halves/backs in a game if injury elsewhere created a need.
What has happened? Has it been the head knocks? Has there been inadequate attention to player welfare issues. Specifically, if head knock dented - shall we say - his confidence, has this not been addressed properly to rebuild his confidence?
Out of curiosity, I searched for highlights of Matterson's time on loan to the Warrington Wolves in late 2025. Watch them HERE. When you watch them, you see Matterson playing gun straight in the middle of the park. He is basically an offloading machine, often breaking first contact. Maybe there is something in those highlights? Maybe Matterson is not getting to play a style he would prefer, of aiming to promote the ball? Maybe the NRL defenses are a bit stiffer than the Super League and that style might generate a too high error rate?
I'm actually going to take the opposite track to many comments on Matterson of late. An in-form and confident Matterson would be great. Why we are not seeing that back at Parra is a bit of a mystery, maybe it is a confidence thing, maybe Ryles wants something different in the middle, maybe some combination of the two.
PS: if you were 31, a professional athlete smart enough to know you probably have five years of earnings to look after, and your contract is ending at the Eels in October 2026, would you move to Melbourne for a contract ending October 2026 when they already seem well-covered in the middle? Maybe Matterson sees himself breaking back into the Eels' team? Maybe he thought he might only be cover at Melbourne and completely unseen? Maybe he lacked confidence in that team option for 2027? And lest it go unsaid, obviously Paulo/Hopgood/Tuivati are the currently preferred props, and De Belin/Walker/Doorey are the preferred locks, and they are all middles, but if the Eels go down two middles for whatever reason, I'm pretty sure there might be some relief Matterson is still here?
Wow, what a flog. I reckon even if he was to want to take it up now, following the head knock, they would not even be interested...... Please just mediacally retire this clown
Just watched the highlight video, where has that been for Years and Years and Years - why did he not stay there - just lazy too in the NRL
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