'Last to know and the first to be blamed': Ryan Matterson hits back after being accused of ending Lomax deal

Out of favour Eels forward Ryan Matterson has hit back at reports he was central to the Zac Lomax deal falling over earlier this week.

Media outlets, including News Corp and Wide World of Sports, reported Matterson refused a move to Melbourne which would have also sent Lomax to the Storm and freed up significant salary cap space for the Eels.

The Storm and Eels were on their way to reaching an agreement which would have seen State of Origin winger Lomax join Craig Bellamy's roster, having quit his Eels contract at the end of last season to pursue rebel rugby competition R360, which ended up being delayed by two years.

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Parramatta's legal case against Lomax ended on Tuesday morning when the two parties reached an agreement, blocking Lomax from playing for a rival club until at least 2028 unless he gains written permission from his former team.

Melbourne had been negotiating for three months in an effort to bring Lomax south and bolster a backline that looks mighty thin after the departure of Ryan Papenhuyzen and an injury to Xavier Coates.

The Eels would only let Lomax join the Storm if they were offered a deal that would benefit their football department. Financial offers of $100,000, $200,000 and then $300,000 were rejected in exchange for the player Melbourne was willing to pay $750,000 a season for.

On Wednesday it was reported the Storm offered to also take Matterson off Parramatta's books, freeing up about $416,000 of his $700,000-a-season deal in western Sydney.

Matterson was accused of digging his heels in and demanding a Storm contract for 2027 as part of the deal, which the club was not willing to guarantee.

On Wednesday night, hours after the Matterson reports emerged, the one-game Origin forward took to social media to hit back.

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"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 10 year career," he wrote.

"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. 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."

The Storm offered Matterson the chance to rejuvenate his NRL career under Bellamy as many, many players have done over the years.

He seemingly has little future as an NRL player at Parramatta under Jason Ryles and will almost certainly spend 2026 in reserve grade. He played only four games in first grade last year.

He suffered a concussion during pre-season which he is still rehabilitating.

News Corp reported the Storm were blindsided when Matterson's agent Gavin Orr informed the club early this week his client would only agree to the deal if they guaranteed a contract for 2027.

Melbourne was not prepared to make that guarantee, effectively ending negotiations and any chance Lomax had of continuing his own NRL career with the Storm.

Matterson was on the nose with the Eels and club fans three years ago when he controversially opted to be suspended for the opening rounds of the season rather than pay a $4000 fine.

It happened after the Eels lost the NRL grand final to Penrith in 2022 and left a sour taste in the mouths of many who saw the decision as Matterson putting his own financial interests ahead of the team.

Matterson's career has been a rollercoaster. He made his Origin debut for NSW in 2022 but was never seen in a Blues jersey again.

His career stalled under Ryles last year and now it appears it may be over, unless he finds a new home for 2027 and beyond.

Lomax is only 26 years old and was at the top of his game before the bombshell decision to quit the Eels last year.

He made his Origin debut in 2024 and has played six consecutive games on the wing for the Blues. He also played three games for the Kangaroos in 2024 and is undoubtedly one of the best centre-wingers in the competition.