Wantaway Wests Tigers utility Ryan Matterson has damaged his chances of finding a new NRL club and is no certainty to be released from the final two seasons of his three-year deal, according to reports.
The 25-year-old joined the joint-venture club from the Sydney Roosters in 2019 but is already on the hunt for his next NRL home.
Matterson requested and was granted leave from Tigers training last month and was also given permission to look for another club, with The Lurker reporting the fringe Origin forward isn’t a fan of coach Michael Maguire.
It is also understood the Tigers star wants a significant upgrade on his reported $350,000 a season salary.
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Matterson has been linked with as many as eight NRL clubs, including Parramatta, Gold Coast, Canterbury, Cronulla, Penrith, St George Illawarra, South Sydney and Melbourne.
He reportedly this week met with Parramatta and is expected to meet Titans officials next week.
But News Limited journalist and Sporting News contributor Brent Read fears Matterson’s handling of his contract saga, which has drawn criticism from team-mates including Robbie Farah, could cost him a new gig.
“It’s hard to know where he’ll go right now, Ryan Matterson … and I don’t think he’s helped himself at all the way this has gone on,” Read told Triple M’s The Rush Hour With MG.
“I think it’s actually damaged his ability to find a club to be honest.”
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