Injury horror story
TITANS hit-man Will Matthews has “meat” missing from his knee after contracting an infection which threatened to derail his Gold Coast revival.
Matthews will activate an option in his contract that will keep him at the Titans in 2019 after relaunching his NRL career at the Gold Coast.
Nicknamed “Wolf Creek” by teammates for his cagey demeanour, Matthews has been a handy addition to the Gold Coast’s backrow this season.
The 30-year-old is the defensive specialist the Titans have needed on their left edge and is now a walk-up starter in coach Garth Brennan’s team.
However, Matthews has had to overcome a bizarre injury after contracting an infection in the Gold Coast’s Round 4 win against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
“I got a boot stud in my knee and it cut me open,” Matthews said.
“They stitched it up and the next day it started to get a bit red and yuck. The doctor gave me some antibiotics but it got worse and worse.
“I had a staph infection from something on the field getting in there.
“I had to go into hospital, they cut it open, cleaned it out and drained it out.
“It was worse than what we were all expecting. We thought it might have been a little cleanout but the doctor said the infection was worse.
“He had to cut a fair bit of shit out. He had to cut a bit of my bursa out and some meat in my knee.”
Matthews, 30, tackled the Panthers last Sunday with strapping tape hiding the five stitches and missing flesh.
He is in better shape for the Gold Coast’s clash with the Cowboys in Townsville tomorrow night, his 98th NRL game, and is looking to string some consistent performances together before activating an option in his contract to remain at the Titans.
Matthews made his NRL debut for the Titans in 2008 and played 33 games for the club before heading to St George Illawarra for six seasons.
A product of northern NSW, Matthews is relishing his return to the Gold Coast.