Ryan Matterson has taken a sly dig at the his former club for the decision to release fullback Corey Thompson to the Gold Coast Titans.
Thompson played in the opening two games of the season before being dropped in favour of new recruit Adam Doueihi.
Seeking more opportunities to play first-grade, he jumped at the chance to join the Titans effective immediately with the Wests Tigers on board with the move.
Matterson, however, took to Instagram to voice his disappointment over the decision from his former team, as first reported in the Daily Telegraph .
“Players’ player last year and they didn’t want to use you this year,” he wrote.
“You are an absolute freak of a player and will kill up at the Titans.”
Ryan Matterson took aim at the Tigers for the recruitment decision.
Source: Instagram
Matterson walked out on his three-year deal with the Tigers last year to join Parramatta after a falling out with the club.
“I don’t sign contracts to purposely want to leave,” Matterson told The Daily Telegraph.
“Something did happen at the Tigers and I’m sorry it happened. But it’s a personal matter between myself and the club and I’m going to respect that, hold my side of the bargain.”
There was little controversy surrounding Thompson’s exit though with both teams seeing the move as in each other’s best interests.
Thompson averaged 125 running metres, four tackle busts while playing on both the wing and at fullback during his time at the Tigers.
A strong running game was his strongest asset but Doueihi added more as a ball-playing option, with two try assists and just as many linebreak assists from four games in the number one jersey.
Thompson made a solid start to his career at the Gold Coast before leaving the field with a concussion in their 20-2 loss to the Dragons.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook said the new six-again rule only made the club chase Thompson even harder.
“He is obviously a very good fullback with terrific speed and consistency, and the past few weeks under the new ruck rules have shown us just how important those qualities are in the modern game,” Holbrook said.
“He brings good experience with over 100 top-level games in the NRL and Super League, he’s played in a grand final.
“But most importantly brings great values to the club in the way he prepares and good, honest qualities in the way he interacts with his coaches and teammates.
“He is an anticipation player, who plays what is in front of him, and a Queensland guy excited about the chance to come home.”
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe couldn’t speak highly enough of Thompson as an ambassador for the club.
“Corey has always carried himself tremendously well on and off the field,” he said.
“The chance for him to head home to Queensland for the first time in his career on a long-term deal is a valuable opportunity for him and his family.”
