Aaron Woods’ brutal sledge after Ryan Matterson cops controversial ban
Eels star Ryan Matterson continues to pay the price for his controversial move to cop a three-match ban rather than a $4000 fine.
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Eels forward Ryan Matterson continues to pay the price for choosing a three-game ban over a $4000 fine in the wake of his side’s grand final loss to the Panthers.
The skilful lock hit was with a crusher tackle charge following an incident involving Penrith’s Dylan Edwards in the NRL decider, but surprised everyone when he elected to take the three-game ban instead of parting with his cash.
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“I just feel that $4000 is pretty hefty considering I have already paid close to $4000 in fines this year for things that are absurd,” Matterson told AAP.
“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.
“If you do something wrong at work. They don’t take money off you.”
The decision has gone down like a lead balloon among past players, with Penrith great Mark Geyer suggesting it shows a lack of passion for the Parramatta jersey from the 27-year-old.
Veteran Dragons prop Aaron Woods took the criticism even further on Thursday morning, declaring Matterson would be banished from the change rooms if he made the same decision while playing for the Red V.
“He’s just one of the tightest humans you’ll meet. I can’t believe it, there’s no way I’d miss a game, I’d pay $50,000 to play one game,” Woods told Triple M.
“If he was at the Dragons he’d be in the other change room because he wouldn’t be allowed in our one, he’d be with the NSW Cup team.
“I don’t understand, some people would be dying to play an NRL game and he’s missing it for $4000.”
Woods referenced Matterson’s recent re-signing on a $2.4m deal at the Eels as he continued to criticise the in-form forward.
“Just quietly he just got a big upgrade, he took the Dolphins for a bit of a ride then came back and got a good squeeze out of Parramatta,” Woods said.
“But he’s only human, we’d probably all do the same thing (during negotiations).”
Matterson, who made his Origin debut for NSW in 2022, also copped a salty response from Jarome Luai after the Eels forward accused the Penrith five-eighth of kicking out at teammate Isaiah Papali’i while justifying his decision not to accept the crusher ban.
“Considering Jarome Luai is kicking players and he didn’t get cited. It makes you think ‘Where is this game heading?’” Matterson told AAP.
Luai responded on social media by poking fun at Matterson’s perceived hardship.
The controversial playmaker reposted an image on his Instagram stories, which showed Matterson’s quote.
He added three crying emojis, and the chorus to R&B star Kennyon Brown’s song Cry 4 You.
Originally published as Aaron Woods’ brutal sledge after Ryan Matterson cops controversial ban
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