Matthews keen to grab his chances
THIS time last year, Will Matthews was restricted to crutches and about to start relearning how to walk.
The Kyogle Turkeys junior had been coming off his best season yet – 20 games in a consistent campaign for St George Illawarra – when his 2017 aspirations were instantly dashed.
Matthews dislocated his right hip in the annual preseason Charity Shield match against Souths that February.
In an 11-year NRL career littered by injuries, it stands out as by far his most painful experience.
“Even the old green whistle didn’t help too much,” Matthews recalled to the Bulletin. “It’s something that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.
“It (his hip) didn’t go back in on the ground so they had to take me to hospital, put me unconscious and then put it back in. I think I was in hospital for that night and the whole next day.”
What followed was a sixweek period on crutches and then what proved to be a rather unfamiliar process.
“It was kind of like learning to walk again in a way; the first couple of weeks (after crutches) just in the pool, walking around,” he said.
The injury shattered the second-rower’s confidence, with the mental side of his recovery prominent to getting back into contact.
Adding to the trauma was its bad timing, considering he was off contract with the Dragons at the end of 2017; his sole NRL appearance of the year came off the bench in Round 24.
He ended up signing with English Super League club Widnes Vikings for 2018 and beyond, only to later seek an opportunity to play on the Gold Coast due to family reasons.
Matthews, who turns 30 this month, was a revelation for the Titans in Round 1, pulling off some crunching tackles in a long stint off the bench.
He is well aware of the need to keep impressing, with Maroons enforcer Jarrod Wallace due back from suspension next week and there being no obvious candidate to make way.
“The guys on the bench were pretty motivated when they came on, which was good,” Matthews said.