Panther 449
30 matches [2005-2007]
24 points [6 tries]
Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_cross-matthew.htm
Wagga born forward who had played lower grades at Canberra and then was playing for Batemans Bay in the South Coast competition before being recruited by the Panthers.
He made his NRL debut late in the 2005 season, coming off the bench and played in the last six premiership matches that year, and scored one try. In 2006 he was elevated to the NRL squad, and whilst he started the season off the bench he later earnt his first starting spot and would alternate between the front and second rows in 21 appearances. A shoulder injury during the 2007 season restricted him to just 9 matches, and at season’s end departed the club and headed up north to the Gold Coast Titans.
After just one season he was released to Melbourne in 2009 and then Manly in 2010, which was his final season in the NRL. He later returned to Batemans Bay as their first grade coach.
The Mighty Panthers 