How Matt Adamson’s family helped save his life after Grand Final heartbreak with Leeds Rhinos

Matt Adamson may have been born in Australia, but when he joined Leeds Rhinos and still to this day, he bleeds blue and amber.

He joined the club in their 30th year without a title in 2002 and was one of the senior players who oversaw the beginning of the golden generation and fell in love with the club.

So much so, when speaking to Serious About Rugby League, he said:

“I love Leeds more than any club in the world other than Manchester United.”

This is why it was so “heart breaking” for him to miss out as his favourite club played at his favourite stadium in 2004 as they went in search of a first title since 1972.

In fact, Adamson has been open about considering suicide after being left out of the Grand Final team.

He paid tribute to his family and the decision they helped him make in joining Canberra Raiders in turning his life back around after this heartache.

“It was heart breaking. I’ve made it public before that I considered killing myself. I was lucky that I had a beautiful wife and some gorgeous kids and my mum and dad and in laws back in Australia that got me through it,” he said to Serious About Rugby League.

“Between the Grand Final, which was a great success and that was most important that we won that but on a personal note it was highly challenging personally.

“My family encouraged me to get on the plane to Australia and take on the final year of my career with the Canberra Raiders and tried to rebuild my own personal mentality.”

He admitted that he didn’t understand the decision as he opened on the moment he was told:

“The day Tony called me into his office to tell me I wasn’t playing, it was hard to take and to this day I have never quite understood why. But he was the coach and that was his decision and it can’t be changed.”

This came after he had been told to he was going to play in the Grand Final which likely made it worse:

“I was told I was going to be, but in my heart I thought ‘why didn’t I play in the semi-final.’ I guess I went into that week positively but to be honest mate up until the time the team was announced I didn’t expect to be picked because of the week before but there was hope because someone had said to me that he was just trying to put a big of fear through the playing roster and keep everyone on their toes.”