You will be able to hear the roar from the Jane Try Stand when Dean Matterson makes his way onto 4 Pines Park for his NRL debut for Manly tonight.
A true rugby league family, there will be plenty of pride and a few tears shed amongst the Matterson clan of 30 family and friends in attendance, including older brother, Ryan.
Manly Coach Anthony Seibold said the Matterson story was a special one.
“His uncle and father are ex-players, and his brother, Ryan, plays for Parramatta,'' Seibold said.
“Dean is 25. He has had to work really hard over a long period of time to get this opportunity. It has come on the back of what he has done at NSW Cup level.
“He has forced his way into this team.
“It is one of the things you love about being a coach, giving a guy a (NRL) debut. It is something most of them have wanted since they were little boys.
“It is good to see ‘Matto’ achieve that dream and we expect him to do his job on Saturday."
Seibold said Matterson was 'very emotional' when he told him of his NRL debut at training earlier in the week.
“You have to be resilient, you have to persevere, be consistent, get a lot of knock backs along the way and for him to finally achieve the dream, I’m really pleased for him,” he added.
Feature article: Years of self-belief and drive pays off for Dean Matterson
