Dean Matterson has called time on his stint with Manly, opting to take his career to France after struggling for regular first-grade opportunities.
One of seven Sea Eagles players without a deal for 2026, the 27-year-old will join Albi Rugby League on a contract covering the 2025–26 Super XIII season, formerly known as the Elite One Championship.
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Matterson, younger brother of Parramatta forward Ryan, follows in his sibling’s footsteps by moving abroad in search of fresh challenges.
‘A bolt from the blue’ for Albi
A five-eighth in his junior days before shifting into the back-row, Matterson managed just seven NRL appearances across his career, none in the past two seasons. He instead became a mainstay in Manly’s NSW Cup side, where he crossed for three tries, averaged 77 metres per game and racked up 279 tackles in 2025.
Albi Rugby League described his arrival as transformative. “A bolt from the blue for Albi Rugby League! We are proud to announce the arrival of Dean Matterson, a player from the prestigious NRL,” a club statement read.
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“Versatile, capable of playing in the second row, the third row, but also at fly-half, Dean is that rare type of player who can turn a match with a single play... or take control of the game when his team needs it.”
Matterson now prepares for a new chapter in southern France, with Albi hailing him as “a well-rounded, powerful, and intelligent player” who they believe can write “a new page in the club’s history.”