'They rushed him': Twist in Matterson ban furore

1 year ago 76

Parramatta teammates accidental Ryan Matterson was "rushed" into a determination to instrumentality a 3 lucifer prohibition alternatively than wage a $4000 good aft the 2022 expansive final.

Matterson opted to instrumentality the prohibition alternatively than wage the good for a crusher tackle connected Penrith's Dylan Edwards, meaning he's missed each 3 of Parramatta's matches truthful acold this season.

Matterson is estimated to gain astir $600,000 per season.

The Eels are astir astatine situation constituent already, having been beaten by Melbourne, Cronulla and Manly.

Only 1 squad - Newtown successful 1923 - has won the contention aft losing the opening 4 matches of the season. The Eels play Penrith successful the expansive last rematch connected Thursday.

Matterson's suspension has added to thing of a back-row situation for the Eels, with Shaun Lane injured, and Nathan Brown, Marata Niukore and Isaiah Papali'i each nary longer astatine the club.

But 5 eighth Dylan Brown has travel to the defence of Matterson, contempt the club's fearfulness commencement to the season.

"Obviously we marque amusive of him astir it, but astatine the aforesaid clip nary 1 knows what helium was going done astatine the clip erstwhile helium made the decision," Brown said.

"I'm definite things would've been racing done his caput [after the expansive final].

"He would've had nary thought what was going on. I'm beauteous definite they rushed him into making the decision, which I personally don't hold with but it's hard to marque a determination astatine the time.

"Whatever the crushed was, I'm definite it was valid for him and his family. We enactment him either mode and it's bully to person him backmost now."

Speaking aft the nonaccomplishment to Cronulla successful circular two, NRL large Paul Gallen told Wide World of Sports that Matterson's determination was baffling.

"I deliberation Matterson did the incorrect happening by the nine by not taking the fine," Gallen said.

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 unrecorded and escaped on 9Now

"I can't deliberation of different subordinate who'd instrumentality that option. I truly can't.

"If you look astatine his declaration connected a pro-rata basis, he's astir apt connected $15,000 a crippled oregon adjacent more.

"So to not wage a $4000 good is conscionable bewildering."

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