NRL News: Rugby boss hits back at 'cry babies' over Suaalii deal, Eels on hunt for new fullback, Matterson explains fine mess

Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan has blasted ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and fellow critics of the Joseph Suaalii switch as “cry babies”.

V’landys and Roosters hooker Brandon Smith led a chorus of NRL voices who undermined Suaalii’s signings news after it was announced on the weekend.

“What a bunch of cry babies,” McLennan told NewsCorp. “They have completely thrown their toys out of the cot. Our elite players will earn more. We are in a different league as we are global with over 800 million people who follow the game and it is played in more than 100 countries.

“They can say what they want but we won’t be bullied.”

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Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, V’landys declared that it was hard to argue with Suaalii’s motives for the switch, but that he would eventually tire of his new game.

Joseph Suaali’i. (Photo by Tim Goode/PA Images via Getty Images)

“It’s hard to blame Joseph for going to rugby and considering it as his future when he is going to be paid twice the money for doing half the work,” said the ARLC chairman.

“In rugby they play around 33 minutes per match, but in league the ball is in play for 57 minutes, so it would be a lot easier to earn your money.

“Besides, I really think that after Joseph plays rugby for a little while he will get terribly bored and return to rugby league. That’s what the majority of the players who switch codes do.”

Suaalii’s teammate Brandon Smith also gave him a light-hearted sledging, telling media that union was ‘soft’.

“Super stoked for him, he’s an amazing talent and rugby really got a gem there,” Smith said. “(But) a $1.6 million winger from the Roosters isn’t going to help you beat the All Blacks.”

McLennan said RA was expecting the NRL to try to poach young star Max Jorgensen in retaliation but they were prepared for such a move. 

“No doubt they will try and pick off somebody like Max,” McLennan said. “But we love him and his contract renewal will be when he’ll be on the cusp of playing on the Lions tour and then the Rugby World Cup in 2027, which league just can’t compete with.”

Eels on the lookout for No.1

Parramatta are on the hunt for a new fullback to join the club ASAP but have denied it means Clint Gutherson is on the outer.

The Eels are looking for an attacking spark who can come off the bench to give the team an injection of energy and with Gutherson being able to cover many positions, he could end up in the centres or elsewhere.

Eels officials have held a meeting with Gutherson to explain their plan, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report, and the skipper is fine with the idea.

Parra avoided a 0-4 start to the season with a golden-point field goal from newly resigned chief playmaker Mitchell Moses and face another crunch match on Thursday night at Allianz Stadium against a Roosters side coming off the bye.

Clint Gutherson is tackled by Kalyn Ponga. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The Eels have a few roster spots to fill and a decent chunk of salary cap left to add an attacking gun for hire.

Gutherson is under contract until the end of 2025 and in no danger of being squeezed out but veteran centre Waqa Blake is unlikely to be renewed after this season. 

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been floated as a possible recruitment option for the Eels but he is under contract until the end of this year with New Zealand Rugby and is likely to play rugby overseas next year if he can’t realise his goal of representing the All Blacks at the World Cup.

Matterson explains fine mess

Ryan Matterson says he thought he could count Parramatta’s pre-season trials as part of a suspension when he took a three-match ban over a $4000 fine, insisting he would not make the same decision if he had his time over.

Matterson spoke for the first time since last October on the NRL’s most controversial suspension on Sunday, after he returned and played a crucial role in Thursday night’s win over Penrith.

The Parramatta backrower admitted he had found it hard watching on in the opening three rounds, as the Eels lost narrow matches to Melbourne, Cronulla and Manly. The 28-year-old was at a Parramatta fan day on the Monday following last year’s grand final when he was charged with a crusher tackle, before performing community work on the Tuesday when a call was required on his plea.

Matterson said he spoke to the club several times in those two days, before eventually opting to take a three-game ban rather than pay a fine, while also savaging the NRL over the charge and its use of fines in an interview that week. “In hindsight I wouldn’t have made that decision,” Matterson said. 

“Unfortunately I had to make that decision after a grand final loss. On the Tuesday when I had to make the decision, I was working with a disability company. I thought that trial matches would be included. Obviously they weren’t. 

“I wouldn’t have made the decision in hindsight. It was hard watching the boys.”

Parramatta tried several times to apply to the NRL to have Matterson’s plea changed to take the fine, as the Eels reasoned there was not enough time for him to consider the ramifications.

Those appeals were ultimately denied, when the NRL told Parramatta through the summer there was no mechanism available to change the punishment.

Regardless, Matterson conceded he only had himself to blame after speaking with the club before the decision was made. “There were a few phone calls, but there’s no excuse,” he said. “I did try and rectify that decision and go back to the NRL and pay the fine but it was too late. And that’s fine, it’s something I had to deal with.”

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The NSW State of Origin back-rower’s decision prompted widespread criticism from current and ex-players, including Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith last weekend.

Andrew Johns, Wendell Sailor, Aaron Woods and Nathan Hindmarsh have been among other players to question Matterson’s stance and priorities.

Matterson and Smith will meet on Thursday night, but Matterson said he had closed off from the comments. “I haven’t heard anything, I have just been getting support from my teammates,” Matterson said,

“It hasn’t been a talking point here because obviously everyone knows what is going on behind closed doors. I love the boys, I play my heart and soul for the boys and they do the same for me.”

Hunt apologises for dreadful Dragons display

Ben Hunt has labelled St George Illawarra’s biggest loss to Cronulla in 16 years as very embarrassing, conceding it will put more of a spotlight on coach Anthony Griffin’s future.

Days after learning Griffin had been told the club were canvassing their options for next year, the Dragons put in a horror show to be beaten 40-8 by the Sharks on Sunday evening.

In a woeful second half, the Dragons completed at 42 per cent and missed 25 tackles as they went from in the contest at 12-8 down to well and truly beaten.

The Dragons dropped the ball in their second set of the half, and never really regained the momentum of the match as Nicho Hynes put on a masterclass.

Hunt admitted afterwards he felt sorry for the off-contract Griffin following the loss, with a decision on his future likely to be made in coming months and speculation set to continue.

“It’s very disappointing. It’s not going to go away now,” Hunt said.

“I thought that second half was very embarrassing. 

“I don’t think there would be a guy in our side who thought they played well in the second half. To dish that out in front of your home fans, it’s not good enough.”

The Dragons have conceded 40 points in two straight games, with the majority of the damage done in the second half.

Hunt is adamant the situation has not served as a distraction for the Dragons, who’ve missed the finals in both Griffins’ years at the club.

The Saints’ halfback has been one of Griffin’s most vocal supporters, having come through the Brisbane system under him as a teenager.

He urged the club earlier this year not to rush into a decision on Griffin’s future, asking the club to give the coach the full season to prove his credentials.

Asked for his reaction to the fact the club will make a decision sooner and was already considering their options, the Dragons captain said: “It’s disappointing.

“We have to play some good footy. That’s all it comes down. 

“He’s not the one out on the field. We’re the ones missing tackles in the second half.”

Hunt also indicated his disappointment that the situation had become public, after Griffin was told in the pre-season of his predicament.

The coach himself signalled his frustration over the leak in a press conference on Saturday, telling reporters questions over his future should be directed to the source of the story.

“Preferably, you would like everything to stay in-house, but it doesn’t happen in rugby league,” Hunt said on Sunday.