Parramatta has upped the ante in the fight for Ryan Matterson, tabling a revised four-year deal in the hope of keeping the NSW State of Origin star out of the clutches of Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins.
Confidential understands that the Eels have shown their intent by offering Matterson a longer deal at the club despite reports that he has already agreed to join the Dolphins for their inaugural season in 2023.
The Eels came back to the table with a four-year deal, believed to be worth in the vicinity of $2.5 million, as they plan to make Matterson a key part of their premiership tilt.
Eels coach Brad Arthur was forthright in his hope Matterson would remain at the club.
“We have put a good competitive offer for four years to him and we would love him to stay,” Arthur said.
“He is a local junior - came through our system – and been back now for a couple of years and playing his best footy.
“He is a real integral part of us moving forward. We would love him to stay.”
Matterson flew to Brisbane last week where he toured the Dolphins set-up and spoke to Bennett. The NRL’s newest franchise are believed to be increasingly confident that they have their man, but the Eels won’t give up without a fight.
In their favour, Matterson knows that staying at Parramatta guarantees he will be in top eight contention. The Dolphins are a relative mystery and success is not certain.
Arthur points out that the past fortnight has demonstrated the danger of moving to a side that struggles to be competitive - Josh Addo-Carr was axed from NSW after moving to Canterbury.
“He has some mates here, his family are obviously very important to him,” Arthur said.
“I am sure he doesn’t really want to leave his family. We are a competitive team which helps with Origin selection. We have seen what has happened in the last couple of weeks with a few other players - if you are in a competitive team, it gives you a better chance.
“I feel like his preference is to stay in Sydney, stay at Parramatta around his family but I am not sure what the Redcliffe offer is.
“We definitely want him to stay. He is an important part of our team moving forward. He will be handy for NSW because he can play anywhere in the forward pack for them.”
Asked when he expected a decision from Matterson, Arthur said: “I am sure he wouldn’t want to be worrying about it now during Origin.
“We don’t want him to worry about that. We want him to worry about playing well.”
Replies
This appears to be the Eels way. Sit back and do nothing, then when an offer is tabled by a rival, come in over the top with something ridiculous. If the Dolphins rumours are true, i.e. $1.5M over three years, why are we offering $2.5M over 4 years? Surely the best we need to do is just match their offer, especially for a player whose form is patchy at best and suffers concussion issues.
Well i wonder if an option is there MeelK, back-ended or front-ended deal. It is only an extra 100K a year which is not that much for a player who is playing Origin, 600k or so a season.
I think four years is a bit much, 3 years 1.8mil is fair i feel. When you get desperate and look desperate it rubs off on the player you are trying to keep, and they hold you to ransom if they are that way inclined. I will say that he wants Lock, so does this close the door on Brown in 2023/24 in the middle? could we still go for another back-rower to develop?
Hindsight is a beautiful thing, 4 years $2.5mil would have been a bargain for Papali'i Lol.
Are you sure about that Dollies offer, Meelky?
Also, our offer is over $600,000 per year. Isn't that what Papa signed for at Tigers??
Seems crazy we offer it to Matto but refused to give to Papa. Football suicide.
gotta remember that papaali's would have been a 450k increase (200k per season from final offer), in this case for matto its circa 50k increase.
But then again, if Papali'i was extended, Matterson would be gone, so Matterson's money would go to Papali'i.
a betting man would say both would be gone....I would suggest that tigers would have upped their offer even more - they are desperate
That is very true Rock, Wests would have went to 800k. Getting the 2021 Second-Rower of the year gives the fans and organisation hope of attracting other players, only got Koroisau since haha.
Thats a very good point, Rock. There is no saying that the Tigers had reached their limit for Ice at 650k.
No because if Papali was extended, we would have been negotiating with the HIA impaired player we knew 6 months ago.
Ruprecht: Ice is only 23. Matto will be 28 in a few months. In view of this fight over Matto, I wonder why we didn't fight harder for Ice? Learning a lesson, adapting, or ... ?
I'll stop there because comparison is definitely the thief of joy.
If these numbers are true (600K+ over 4 years) Matto would be bonkers to go to the Dolphins unless the Dolphins are even more bonkers to double down (on their future captain). Then, it's bon voyage. Arthur's also wily enough to use the Mates, Family & Fox Syndrome cards (cue Reed's headgear) publicly.
Let's hope Matto continues to play like he is in 2022. Four years could come back to bite us in the rear end.
Wouldn't expect too many big-name marquee signings for the next few years - unless the cap changes dramatically.
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