Eels forward Ryan Matterson and the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) have criticised the actions of Parramatta and Melbourne and accused the clubs of using him as a pawn in the now-spiked Zac Lomax trade.
Melbourne had agreed to sign Matterson – whose future is clouded as he deals with ongoing concussion symptoms – if they were allowed to sign Lomax, but the deal fell through after Matterson refused to move without a contract for 2027.
The 31-year-old released a statement on Wednesday night where he said he was the last person to know about his role in the Lomax deal and was now being blamed for it falling over, while the RLPA criticised the use of players as “bargaining chips”, albeit without specifically naming the Storm or Eels.
“For several weeks, I have been away from the club managing concussion symptoms under the care of a neurologist who has guided me throughout my ten-year career,” Matterson said.
“During this time, a deal that did not directly involve me was negotiated for several months by Parramatta and Melbourne. Over this period, I was not once formally consulted.
“The first official notification I received from anyone came last Friday from Melbourne Storm, for which brief discussions were held and concluded the same day. It wasn’t until Sunday afternoon where a deal was tabled and I was expected to make a career-defining decision hours before a high-profile court hearing the following morning.”
“I respect both clubs and hold no ill will toward anyone involved, including Zac Lomax. However, it has been difficult to see the public narrative unfold in a way that suggests I was central to a process I was not part of, particularly without being given prior notice or reasonable time to consider a decision of this magnitude, while also managing a serious head injury.
“I was not part of these negotiations. Yet, it seems I am the one being held responsible for the outcome. I was the last to know and the first to be blamed.”
Parramatta knocked back a $750,000 transfer fee offer from Melbourne, and they came to an out-of-court settlement on Tuesday, with Melbourne effectively paying $250,000 worth of Parramatta’s legal fees in exchange for Lomax being able to return to the NRL in 2028 – 12 months earlier than the original release agreement that he struck with the Eels.
Parramatta Eels forward Ryan Matterson.Credit: Getty
The 26-year-old winger is now in limbo as he waits to see whether another NRL club will attempt to negotiate with the Eels, or if he can get a contract with a rugby team in Australia or overseas.
Lomax’s manager Steve Gillis said they would be exploring all options, and the unemployed star met with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh on Wednesday.
“Everything is on the table at the moment for Zac. He is going to explore all options,” Gillis said on the FanaticsTV podcast.
“We have to go through the process. We have to find out how keen they [Rugby Australia] are and what they can offer.
“Looking to the future, there is a World Cup coming up, and there are overseas options in rugby in France and Japan, there’s an English Super League, and the door is still ajar in the NRL.
“You have to get back on the horse, and we’ll present everything to Zac. The sooner we can source these opportunities, the better for him, because he is itching to get back out there playing.”
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