NRL star rips 'tightest human' over fine furore

Former typical prima Aaron Woods has teed disconnected connected Ryan Matterson for choosing to bull a three-game suspension alternatively than paying a $4000 good aft helium was charged for a crusher tackle successful Sunday's NRL expansive final.

Matterson connected Wednesday explained his decision, arguing it was "absurd" for players to person their salaries docked for on-field incidents.

He added that helium didn't deliberation helium had done overmuch incorrect successful the incidental successful which helium was penalised for putting unit connected the caput and cervix of Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards. While helium agreed that a punishment was warranted, the Eels back-rower said helium wasn't expecting to look a charge.

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Faced with a determination to wage a $4000 good - an magnitude that equates to astir 1 3rd of his weekly wage - oregon beryllium retired the opening 3 rounds of Parramatta's 2022 season, Matterson chose to bull the ban.

The elemental telephone to support the wealth successful his pouch alternatively than wage to play copped contiguous backlash, with Mark Geyer saying: "That doesn't accidental overmuch astir his passionateness to play for the Eels ... The optics of it don't look truly good."

Eels prima Ryan Matterson. (Getty)

And speaking connected Triple M, Dragons front-rower Woods added to the criticism, claiming Matterson wouldn't beryllium allowed successful the archetypal people dressing country astatine his nine based connected those values.

"He's conscionable 1 of the tightest humans you'll meet. I can't judge it, there's nary mode I'd miss a game, I'd wage $50,000 to play 1 game," Woods said.

"If helium was astatine the Dragons he'd beryllium successful the different alteration country due to the fact that helium wouldn't beryllium allowed successful our one, he'd beryllium with the NSW Cup team.

"I don't understand, immoderate radical would beryllium dying to play an NRL crippled and he's missing it for $4000."

Woods besides raised Matterson's caller declaration negotiations arsenic different crushed for the Eels to beryllium disappointed with his determination to beryllium retired games.

The back-rower was successful talks with the Dolphins astir a imaginable determination to the enlargement nine earlier signing a declaration hold with Parramatta.

Woods inferred that Matterson was playing the Eels to get a wage emergence and ne'er intended to permission the club.

Aaron Woods (third from right) and the Dragons look connected aft a Cowboys effort during their circular 14 loss. (Getty)

"Just softly helium conscionable got a large upgrade, helium took the Dolphins for a spot of a thrust past came backmost and got a bully compression retired of Parramatta," Woods said.

"But he's lone human, we'd astir apt each bash the aforesaid thing."

Matterson told media astatine the Ken Thornett Medal connected Tuesday nighttime that helium had "personal things that helium needed to interest astir extracurricular rugby league" successful defence of his determination to bull the suspension alternatively than the fine.

As helium explained himself, Matterson besides deed retired astatine Panthers five-eighth Larome Luai for "kicking players" successful notation to a expansive last incidental that was scrutinised successful the media but went unpunished. He expressed disorder that his crusher tackle attracted a complaint portion Luai's incident, involving Isaiah Papali'i didn't.

"It makes you think, 'Where is this crippled heading?'" Matterson said.

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