A serious knee problem has led to Temora prop Scott Matthews to call it quits.
The 29-year-old hasn’t played since he injured his knee against Tumbarumba in June but has been advised it may never fully heal.
He has a one centimetre by one centimetre hole in his knee cartilage and has opted to play it safe with his long term mobility.
Struggling to run, Matthews was told to avoid any contact sport, ending with playing days with Temora.
“I’ve had a fair few troubles with my knee and my doctor advised me not to play,” Matthews said.
“I need to get a fair bit of work done with my cartilage.
“It will take a fair bit to get it right and even if I did it come right it probably won’t be at 100 per cent anyway.
“So to get the most after my knee I need to retire unfortunately.”
After almost 10 years in the top grade with his hometown, Matthews will leave a big hole in the Dragons pack.
A former Riverina and Group Nine representative has had a stellar career but would have liked to have achieved one more goal in his time with Dragons – claim another premiership.
“I was hoping to get another couple more years out of playing with Temora and I hoping to get another premiership before I retire but there is no fairytale ending for everyone,” Matthews said.
“You have to embrace it and go from there.”
With family still heavily involved in the club, the 29-year-old expects to remain involved with the club.
“I’ll keep my head in the club and help out where I can,” Matthews said.
Matthews’ retirement coupled with the loss of captain-coach Michael Henderson takes a lot of power out of the front row.
Secretary Greg Matthews said the club are in the process of talking to a number of players from outside the region but the Dragons have secured former Canberra Raiders under 20 player Jordyn Ballard.
Ballard returned to his hometown Cootamundra halfway through this season but is set to make the switch for 2016.
“We’ve been talking to him and at the moment it looks like he will be joining the Dragons,” Greg said.
He will be a good replacement for Josh Bryant who has moved to Sydney.
The club don’t plan to talk to their other Group 20 recruit Clinton Green about a second season and is hopeful of securing fullback Scott Bowden shortly.
New coach Daniel Fitzhenry is heavily involved in the recruitment.
“We are sitting down with Daniel looking at the player list and what we need and what we can afford,” Greg said.
