Parramatta Eels player Ryan Matterson has opened up regarding his role in the contract controversy linked to Zac Lomax's transfer to the Storm.
He disclosed that he felt sidelined during his own contract discussions and was under pressure to make a critical choice about his future in just a few days.
The Storm intended to take on Matterson's contract as a tempting incentive for Parramatta to permit Lomax's transition to Melbourne.
As rumors circulated suggesting that Matterson was the reason for the deal's collapse, he felt it was necessary to clarify his situation.
"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," Matterson stated on his Instagram account.
"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."
It appears the Eels did not inform Matterson about their intentions regarding his move, even as he dealt with serious concussion concerns.
"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," he added.
Matterson's worries about the hastily proposed deal contributed to his decision to decline the move to Melbourne, and he voiced his frustration at being portrayed as the 'scapegoat' in this complex legal issue.