Ex-Warrington Wolves man facing possibility of early retirement after NRL transfer drama

Former Warrington Wolves man Ryan Matterson could be facing retirement as he seeks medical advise for long-lasting concussion symptoms.

Matterson spent the second half of last season on loan from Parramatta Eels at Warrington, with the forward making eight appearances under Sam Burgess. It was a tough period for the Wire and Matterson returned to Sydney at the end of the year having helped the club to just one win.

The forward’s future was uncertain as he prepared to join up with Parramatta on the training field once more, but reports over the winter suggested he had done enough to impress and force his way back into the thinking under Jason Ryles.

That was before he picked up another concussion in pre-season and the former State of Origin man hasn’t trained with the club since.

And, as the new NRL season approaches, his agent admits there is a chance that Matterson might not play again.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Gavin Orr of Pacific Sports Management told the Daily Telegraph on the possibility of Matterson playing again.

“I’ve asked Ryan the same question, and his answer is, ‘I’m not sure. At the moment, I’d probably say it’s a no’.

“Once the symptoms wear off, and he’s not light-headed and he doesn’t feel nauseated and stuff like that, then maybe he will play again.

“But this is a week-to-week thing. There’s a lot to consider, including getting medical advice, before Ryan returns to the field.”

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The news comes after Matterson was surprisingly dragged into Melbourne Storm’s bid to sign Zac Lomax. In a bid to get the green light to sign Lomax from Parramatta, Melbourne offered to take the ex-Warrington Wolves man off the Eels’ hands.

However, given his current condition, Matterson turned down the move to Victoria and that rendered the club’s attempts to land Lomax dead in the water.

“I don’t know why Ryan Matterson has become part of all this,” Orr added.

“I can understand Parramatta’s situation to try and move him off the cap, but there was a chance the Storm could have outlaid $400,000 for a player to not play.

“That’s the point I think people are missing.

“If Ryan felt 100 per cent physically, he would’ve probably looked at going to Melbourne, but he isn’t 100 per cent at the moment.

“He is still getting symptoms.”