Origin and premiership-winning forward Ryan Matterson has announced his medical retirement after a battle with ongoing concussion issues.
Matterson’s last rugby league appearance came in September 2025, featuring for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League while on loan from the Eels.
Matterson is in the final year of his Parramatta contract and took to social media to unveil the news, while also explaining the “effects of concussion” led him to make the final call.
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“Today, I’m announcing my medical retirement from rugby league,” he wrote in a post on Instagram.
“For many years, I’ve battled the effects of concussion and the symptoms that have come with it. I’ve tried to push through, manage it and keep doing what I love.
“But over time, the symptoms have become harder to live with and unfortunately, they’ve continued to get worse.
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“Eventually, you have to make the hardest decision of your life and walk away from the thing you love, in order to protect the life you have ahead of you.
“Rugby league was my childhood dream. I was incredibly lucky and privileged to live it for more than a decade. I gave everything I had to this game, and it gave me memories, friendships, lessons and experiences I will carry forever.
“This decision hasn’t come easy and it hurts.”
The 31-year-old’s career comes to an end after 181 NRL games and eight appearances in the Super League.
He began his career at the Roosters, winning a premiership in 2018 before making a move to the Tigers for a singular season and even the Eels.
Matterson also played one game for NSW during the 2022 Origin series.
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