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Parramatta’s roster overhaul is set to claim another high-profile player with Ryan Matterson the latest star told he is free to leave.
The 30-year-old forward has been languishing in NSW Cup this season after new coach Jason Ryles has put his faith in a host of younger players as part of his rapid rebuild of the team.
Matterson had already exercised an option in his contract for 2026 but after seeing the writing on the wall, his management approached the Eels to get permission to negotiate with other clubs, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
The former NSW representative has made just one appearance at NRL level this season and could be a handy pick-up for another NRL team in need of depth in their pack.
A switch to the Super League is also an option for the former Roosters premiership winner.
Fellow forward Joe Ofahengaue was recently released by the Eels to link with Leigh in England’s north while Ryles tapped veteran stars Reagan Campbell-Gillard and captain Clint Gutherson on the shoulder in the off-season with the star duo joining Gold Coast and St George Illawarra respectively.
Shaun Lane has taken a break from the Eels after he was dropped to NSW Cup recently while fellow second-rower Bryce Cartwright has been relegated to the reserves and faces an uncertain future at the club.
Cartwright is in the final year of his deal while Lane is under contract until the end of next season.
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien says he would welcome Dom Young back with open arms, making clear the Knights want the winger to return “home”.
One of the Sydney Roosters’ biggest-name signings of 2024 when he arrived from Newcastle, Young has been given permission to talk to NRL rivals. A mid-season switch remains on the cards, with Young having until the June 30 trade deadline for a deal to be struck with another club for the rest of this season.
Based on O’Brien’s comments on Thursday, the 23-year-old Englishman may not have to wait anywhere near that long.
Left languishing in reserve grade for the past two weeks, Young would be a first-choice winger in a Knights side desperately trying to regain their spark. “Myself, the club, the community never wanted to lose Dom in the first place,” O’Brien said.
“If he wants to come home everyone will have open arms. I understand at the moment he is still a Rooster. If he wants to come home the whole stadium and town will embrace him and I know the playing group will too.
Dominic Young catches a kick on his way to score. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“If he wants to come home, we’re here.”
O’Brien said he was yet to speak with Young, who is on the outer at the Roosters after falling behind Mark Nawaqanitawase, Robert Toia and Billy Smith for selection. But the Knights have made no secret of the regard they hold the 200cm winger in.
Newcastle desperately missed his early-set yardage upon his exit after the 2023 finals, after he also scored 43 tries in 51 games for the club.
“He brought a lot,” O’Brien said. “He can finish a try. He was a popular member of the squad. He was happy, connected.
“Him and Gags (Dane Gagai) brought a heap together. He is a quality player. If there is an opportunity everyone will welcome him back.”
Young’s expected exit from the Roosters comes as the Tri-colours remain the favourites to land Daly Cherry-Evans’ signature for next season. The Roosters have previously been linked with off-contract Brisbane centre Selwyn Cobbo, with Trent Robinson indicating last year he would be the kind of player the club would be interested in.
The Broncos are facing a battle to retain Cobbo in their salary cap, and he has said publicly he is prepared to move interstate.
“Every club is going through that, the more success you have the more pressures there are to hold onto a guy,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said on Thursday. “But being successful is also a good thing.
“Selwyn is a big part of what we’re doing, it’s nice to see him playing some good footy.”
Parramatta could finally get a glimpse of Zac Lomax playing alongside halfback Mitchell Moses as the winger gets set to make a late audition to retain his spot in the NSW State of Origin side.
After Thursday’s 20-16 loss to the Dolphins, which kept the Eels at the bottom of the ladder, coach Jason Ryles said he was hopeful of having Lomax back on deck for next Friday’s away trip to face Newcastle.
The Eels’ early-season record (2-7) under rookie head coach Ryles has clearly been impacted by the lengthy absences of the club’s two-most creative players.
Zac Lomax. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Lomax has not played since round five due to injury, denying Ryles the chance to see the club’s star outside back combine with influential playmaker Moses, who missed the first six games of the season with a foot issue.
“Zac’s back next week and that’s when he’s been scheduled to come back,” Ryles said.
“With the performance team, he’s got a few boxes to tick before next Friday.
“That’s the game we’re aiming for, so we’ll see how he goes.”
Providing Lomax can get the all clear, the winger will have just one shot to prove to NSW coach Laurie Daley he is deserving of a Blues recall.
Daley will name his Blues side on the Monday following round 11’s NRL matches.
Lomax was a revelation on his Origin debut last year, assuming goalkicking duties and offering the Blues an aerial threat.
If he gets the green light, the 25-year-old would likely take a spot on the right wing given the Eels lost luckless Bailey Simosson to an injury on Thursday.
Ryles said Simonsson would go for scans but a long-term absence would be another blow given the Eels’ relatively inexperienced roster.
“You’ve got to look at the experience of some of the boys out there who are in the first part of their NRL career, and it’s a tough business the NRL,” Ryles said.
“They’re learning on the job, and they’re doing an outstanding job for long periods, but there’s just little moments in the game.
“It’s not any one person, it’s spread across the team, so we’ll go back, review, and we’ll just continue to look to get better each week.”
with AAP
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