Gold Coast Titans forward Will Matthews set to play first game for Tweed Seagulls in eight years

Lining up in reserve grade may not be the most glamorous task for an NRL veteran but for Will Matthews, his return from injury via Tweed presents a nice blast from the past.

LINING up in reserve grade may not be the most glamorous task for an NRL veteran but for Will Matthews, his return from injury via Tweed presents a nice blast from the past.

As has been the case for much of his 12-year professional career, Matthews has endured a torrid run of injuries since returning to the Gold Coast last year.

The 31-year-old struggled to string consecutive games together in 2018 and missed the first seven weeks of the current season while overcoming a small achilles tear.

Will Matthews on the training paddock. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

He has been named in the extended Titans squad to face the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night but is expected to instead be in Seagulls colours for their Intrust Super Cup home game against Norths on Saturday afternoon.

A Kyogle product, Matthews played under-19s footy for Tweed and was a member of their ISC premiership-winning outfit in 2007.

“It definitely brings back some good memories going back there,” he said, although not a single player remains in the side from when he last pulled on a Seagulls jersey eight years ago.

Matthews scores a try for the Seagulls in a 2011 Intrust Super Cup semi-final against Wynnum Manly.

Of his injury battles, Matthews could only put it down to misfortune but noted they have made him appreciate his NRL opportunities that much more.

“Obviously you have got some players like your Cam Smiths that go pretty much their whole career with no major injuries and then other players seem to get the bad end of the deal,” the second-rower said.

Matthews in 2007 at Tweed.

“I suppose some injuries can be avoidable but there are a lot of other ones you can’t do too much about. It’s just a bit of bad luck sometimes.

“If you don’t get opportunities as much as other players, you have got to work hard to get there and obviously being injured you fall behind the eight-ball a little bit so you have got to work extra hard to get back in the team.

Matthews in action against the Sydney Roosters last July. Picture: Getty Images

“I definitely don’t take any games for granted, that’s for sure.”

Matthews hopes he can get through his comeback match cleanly before pushing his claims for a Titans call-up, where he could add some valuable defensive solidity.

“We do have a lot of depth but I don’t think we have a lot of experience,” he said.

“We’re a pretty young team so if I can go back and play good footy at Tweed, I think I can make a case to be back in the team for sure.”