Based on the below article and all of the rumblings, it appears Matterson is “hard work “
I hope we remain solid , if not, make sure we are not disadvantaged should we release him ;
“There's more to Matterson's Tigers tale than meets the eye
By Adrian Proszenko
September 14, 2019 — 10.00pm
Ryan Matterson hasn’t been happy at Wests Tigers for some time.
Not long after first raising some issues with coach Michael Maguire about 10 weeks ago, Matterson started talking to a sports psychologist. It’s one of several conversations that have been going on in the background. His agent first noticed he wasn’t happy in May and found him a professional to speak to.
Matterson wants out of the club, but it’s too simplistic to write it off as a falling-out with the coach or just a cash grab. The 24-year-old is on $350,000 and $425,000 respectively for the next two years of his Tigers deal. It’s less than what some of his underperforming teammates are on and ‘‘unders’’ for a player who was 18th man during NSW’s winning State of Origin campaign this year.
It is, however, a significant increase from his days at the Roosters and is the deal he agreed to before his stocks began to rise.
The Tigers, despite their well-publicised salary-cap issues, were prepared to discuss the prospect of an upgrade and extension. Matterson has shut that down. He has told those close to him he isn’t enjoying his football and isn’t getting what he signed up for with former Tigers powerbrokers Ivan Cleary and Kelly Egan.
Matterson has asked his agent to request a release; the Tigers don’t want to part with one of their best players.
Matterson’s relationship with Maguire isn’t the crux of the matter. Maguire deserves credit for making the back-rower a better player. When Brad Fittler was considering adding him to the NSW squad, it was Maguire who was pushing his case. They have had a series of robust conversations in recent months in a bid to address his concerns, although more had been made of one particular meeting than should be the case.
‘‘My job is to make the player the best he can be,’’ Maguire said yesterday. ‘‘I’ve enjoyed the fact he’s risen to the heights he has got to. I spoke to Freddy [Brad Fittler] about getting him into the Origin space because I believe that’s where he’s heading as
‘‘I’ve had conversations with him continuously – when he first arrived, when I first arrived – about growing the organisation.’’
Matterson fell out with Brad Arthur when he was at Parramatta. Matterson thought of himself as a half. Arthur, who at one point dropped him to Ron Massey Cup, thought he was a back-rower. Turns out Arthur was right. Having been rightly criticised for paying overs for players, the Tigers feel they shouldn’t be punished for making a shrewd investment in Matterson. Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep someone who doesn’t want to be there. Cleary is a case in point.
