‘Where is this game heading?’: Ryan Matterson takes aim at NRL over ‘hefty’ fine

Eels forward Ryan Matterson has explained why he copped a three-game ban to start next season rather than a fine.

Ryan Matterson appears to have chosen to keep the cash. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Eels forward Ryan Matterson has decided to decline a $4,000 fine and instead serve a three-game ban after being cited for a crusher tackle in Sunday’s grand final.

The incident in question came in the first half of Parramatta’s 28-12 loss to Penrith, with Matterson penalised and placed on report for the dangerous tackle on Dylan Edwards.

It was the third time Matterson had been charged this season.

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However, the NRL had overhauled its judiciary code in June to allow players who commit a ‘third offence’ in a finals match to pay a fine in place of suspension.

Matterson had that option but instead opted to serve a suspension for the first three weeks of next year.

Ryan Matterson of the Eels. Getty

Speaking to the Australian Associated Press, Matterson said the fine was “pretty hefty, considering I have already paid close to $4000 in fines this year for things that are absurd”.

“At the end of the day I have personal things I need to worry about outside of rugby league. I just didn’t think it was warranted,” Matterson explained, continuing to argue “I didn’t do anything wrong”.

Matterson went one step further and said he shouldn’t have been charged at all over the incident.

“The way Dylan went back in towards me and he kept driving his legs, I tried to let his head out but he just kept back-pedalling,” Matterson said.

“I’m not going to let him back-pedal 100 metres. So I have to stop him. There wasn’t much in it.

“It didn’t make sense to me. At the time I thought it was definitely a penalty, but I didn’t think it would go much further than that.

“Considering Jarome Luai is kicking players and he didn’t get cited. It makes you think ‘Where is this game heading?’”

It is hardly what Parramatta need with back-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore leaving the club for the Tigers and Warriors respectively.

According to the NRL’s official website, players serving a suspension in round one can be named and play in pre-season trials but missing trials will not count towards their ban.

Ryan Matterson with Eels fans. Picture: Richard Dobson

Panthers legend Mark Geyer called Matterson’s decision a “total, total head-scratcher” on Triple M Breakfast with MG, Jess & Pagey.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said.

“That’s peril for Parramatta because they’re losing Niukore, they’re losing Papali’i. They need Matterson on deck. They need to be full-strength. There might be more to it but the optics of it makes Ryan look like he loves his money a bit too much.

“He’s on about $600,000-a-year. To miss three games of footy for $4,000, I don’t get it and hope there is more to it. That doesn’t say much about his passion to play for the Eels. They could be 0-3 to start the Eels after three games, who knows, they need every man on deck. The optics of it don’t look really good.”

Originally published as ‘Where is this game heading?’: Ryan Matterson takes aim at NRL over ‘hefty’ fine