Ryan Matterson has shut down speculation linking him with a move away from Parramatta, with his management confirming the veteran forward is staying put at the club through 2026.
Reports from overseas had suggested that Matterson, a premiership-winner and former Roosters and Tigers forward, was being offered to clubs in the UK’s Super League, sparking uncertainty about his future.
The 29-year-old had only just returned to the NRL side in round six, after a slow start to the season under new coach Jason Ryles. But his manager Chris Orr has dismissed any suggestion of an imminent exit.
He is contracted to Parra and no one has had a word to us from any camp, including the Eels,” Orr told Wide World of Sports, putting an end to the speculation.
Sticking around despite a tough start to the season
While Matterson, who has been with the Eels since 2020, struggled to lock in a regular first-grade spot this year, spending most of the early rounds in the NSW Cup, he has informed the club that he will be taking up the player option in his contract for next season.
It means the Blues representative will be part of the Ryles-led rebuild in 2026.
The club previously allowed Matterson to speak with rival NRL sides last July in a bid to manage their salary cap, and murmurs of his potential departure have lingered since. But with the player option now exercised, Matterson’s future at Parramatta looks more secure, at least on paper.
His recommitment comes as fellow State of Origin forward Joe Ofahengaue was released from his deal to join Leigh Leopards in England. Ofahengaue’s early exit reflects the shifting squad dynamics under Ryles, who is slowly reshaping the roster after taking over.
