Eels Ryan Matterson knocked out by ugly tackle against Storm

An ugly incident in the clash between Parramatta and Melbourne has left fans furious and questioning how serious the NRL are about concussions.

The elbow connected with Matterson's head.

An ugly incident between the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm has left fans fuming as the sides played out a wet weather classic at Bankwest Stadium.

The game went right down to the final minute with Parramatta claiming a 16-12 win after Maika Sivo scored a stunning late try, catching a bomb and getting to the line.

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But the match was rocked early in the second half when Eels second rower Ryan Matterson left the field with assistance after an ugly moment that had social media calling for harsher punishment and sparking a debate.

The score was 6-all in oppressive conditions five minutes into the second half when the Storm had to perform a goal line drop out with the ball rolling towards Ryan Matterson on the sideline.

He ran the ball back infield away from the sideline but the tackle has ended in ugly scenes when Australian and Queensland representative Felise Kaufusi took the top position in a three-man tackle.

As they fell, Kaufusi’s elbow came into contact with Matterson’s head.

Matterson dropped the ball immediately and looked stunned on the ground.

Ryan Matterson was in a bad way.

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said “the back of his head hit the ground and he is down”.

But unlike his first look at it, Kaufusi’s elbow connected with Matterson’s face on the way down to the ground.

“The elbow’s pushed onto the face and in contact with the head,” Voss said. “There may be some intervention here from the bunker.”

But Greg Alexander believed it was worse than first thought.

“I thought he came over the top with the forearm and I thought that played a part in the damage that has been done to Ryan Matterson,” he said.

Voss attempted to mount a defence for Kaufusi, but Alexander was having none of it.

“No, no, no, the elbow came down on the forehead of Ryan Matterson. He had the ball wrapped up,” Alexander reiterated.

Eels fans were calling for a send off and booed when referee Ashley Klein put Kaufusi on report and awarded a penalty for the Eels.

Luckily, Matterson walked assisted from the field.

But Voss added: “In normal speed, I can mount a defence for Kaufusi, his first intention is wrapping up the ball.”

“And then his second intention is the forearm to the head,” Alexander interrupted. “You can do two things at once.”

ON REPORT: Kaufusi could be in hot water after this shot concussed Ryan Matterson.

🏈 #NRLEelsStorm
📺 https://t.co/TkSrKFn0o0
📝https://t.co/3NI7RVopDY
📲https://t.co/xgVf9QcnKwpic.twitter.com/gOeqKulh38

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 18, 2021

Rugby league legend Phil Gould called it “a glancing blow” however showing the call may come down to the eye of the beholder.

“We see Kaufusi come down on top of Matterson,” Gould said.

“It’s a glancing blow. It would be hard to call it deliberate. It doesn’t look good does it.”

Similarly, Bryan Fletcher told the Late Show with Matty Johns that he believed it was “accidental” but that “I think it will be a couple of weeks, you can’t make contact with the melon”.

Gordon Tallis agreed that “It doesn't look good”.

The first hit up on the restart, new Eels cult hero Isaiah Papali’i ran at Kaufusi, with the Storm second rower bouncing out of the tackle.

But social media quickly erupted with fans calling for Kaufusi to be sin binned or even sent off.

That’s a send off

— Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) March 18, 2021

Kaufusi should’ve been sent off for that. You don’t slam someone’s head to the ground like that. If the NRL wants to take a stance on concussion, he’s off. Simple. #nrl#NRLEelsStorm

— Alex Cullen (@alextcullen) March 18, 2021

That's a sin-bin every day of the week under the NRL's rules. Foul play leading to a HIA. I don't get it. #NRLEelsStorm

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) March 18, 2021

What do you have to do to be sent off these days? #NRLEelsStorm

— Damien McCartney (@DamienMcCartney) March 18, 2021

Send off for mine! #NRLEelsStorm

— Steve Hart (@SteveHart10News) March 18, 2021

More worrying is that it's not Matterson’s first concussion.

The NRL Physio Twitter account quickly tweeted: “Really worrying scenes with Ryan Matterson down suffering clear concussion symptoms. Has an extensive history with concussion and complex/recurring symptoms. Hope he is OK, thoughts with him”.

Originally published as Eels Ryan Matterson knocked out by ugly tackle against Storm