Parramatta Eels forward Ryan Matterson had a deal in place with the Gold Coast Titans for a move there, however the deal has now reportedly fallen through. Details as to why the deal fell through are not available. It means the 189 NRL game veteran will remain at Parramatta for 2026 on a salary reportedly worth $700k.
The fact a team was interested shocked me but it is disappointing as we know Matterson will not feature in 2026, even if he did it would be in a very minimal role as Ryles moves towards the likes of Moretti, Tuivaiti, Guymer and Talagi as future middles.
https://www.zerotackle.com/out-of-favour-eels-forwards-move-to-queensland-club-falls-through-228476/
Replies
Mitchy, you are being unfair, those morons as you referred to them were between a rock and a hard place. Matto had virtually signed to go with Bennett at the Dolphins, the hard place is we had just lost 3 players because we could not match the new salary demands.
There is always a solution Poppa; it seems we were played into paying too much $$$; lets be honest he had a decent 22 and 21; the money we signed him for and others is the issue. He is a second rower and I say again he was paid on potential. I get it we lost players that season and there was little succession planning going on.
You compare that to the last 12 months - we have some kids being given a go and doing well, and players have been moved on who wanted to leave and we have not lost much at all in terms of on field skil; if anything we look better in some key areas.
I have said it a few times but it is one example of how this current committee showed signs of panic. They lost Mahoney, Papali'i, Kaufusi and Stone all reletively close to each other. Then Paulo and RCG flirted with the Dolphins, then Matto did too. To avoid more backlash losing forwards, plus Matterson who was coming off being selected for NSW and let's be fair had a really good 2022 season, they caved and offered him a great deal. Average of around $600k per year and 4 years, for a bench player.
Interesting to see the players who left; and who has made strong improvements since leaving? Just solid first graders.
If the club wants Matto off the books have him retire and hire him as an assistant coach of one of the junior sides or as a deleopment officer spreading his contract over a two year period saving him some tax dough.
This is where the top clubs find away to create cap room , they haven't wanted Matto for over a year surely they've explored all avenues to get him off the cap.
There's no way he plays in an Eels jumper again hurry up and make it work .
We cannot force him to retire, if he retires he forfeit's his salary for 2026. Unless he medically retires which can be hard to prove if nothing there.
Do you want him as an assistant? Worth $700k? Either way if you want him gone he will be getting the money he is entitled to, that is fair. Not his fault we caved in and offered him this deal.
I don't think you understand LB the NRL allows players in the twilight of their career to retire early and take up there last years contract as a club employee assistant coach ect and it's off the cap.
He can run the gym; and no doubt would love being the blue shirt.
True but also at the same time you have to convince him to agree to it. All well and good saying "Get him to retire" when he has to agree to it too. We cannot force any player to retire. So therefore he has to agree to it in some capacity. He might feel he has up to 2-3 years of playing left and after 2026 his owed salary drops, so if he is in a role with the club he wont be getting his $700k after that, so he would need to think what he wants to do.
Hey who knows maybe he does do that but unlike Shaun Lane who hinted at doing what he is doing now at the club, Matto we are not sure what he wants to do or even he wants to be involved with the club or NRL post playing.
I don't think there is a hurry up required Bup, after the 1 Nov and the settling down, some clubs will be disappointed they missed out on someone and Matto will be hanging around the fringes and get picked up for 350/400. It may take before ot after Xmas but he will go.....Actually I would have thought he has a case for medical retirement owing to past HIA issues, has anyone thought of exploring that angle?
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