Matthew Ridge

Rugby league raider Graham Lowe initially met sceptics in Britain and Australia, especially the latter. ‘Ra-ra boys’ probably wouldn’t cut it, he was told. But his first signing, Matthew Ridge, proved a master-stroke which forced nearly every club in the ARL to send scouts over to New Zealand.

Ridge has proved to be one of the most successful converts from rugby to Australian league of all time. He was naturally the same type of character as a successful Aussie league player. He was brash, cocky, confident and sure of himself – and he wasn’t scared to tell people how good he was. He would talk the talk, but he could also walk the walk. Admittedly this didn’t sit well with some New Zealanders, who considered him big-headed, but Ridge could cope with that.

He wouldn’t back down to anyone, would take on any challenge, get smashed around if necessary and always gave the impression he was winning. He was like that in rugby, and nothing’s changed in his years of league. Ridge’s rugby career was short, but it promised much. Some of that promise was fulfilled but there was still plenty left in the tank when he signed for Manly.

Born in Rotorua on August 27,1969, Matthew John Ridge began his rep football life as a soccer player, admittedly in under-13. By the time he finished his schooling at Auckland Grammar – having done four years at Mt Albert Grammar – he had shown real ability at rugby, being a regular selection in Auckland age-group teams, and had also been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools side in 1986.

In 1988, a few weeks before his 19th birthday, he made his first-class debut – for the New Zealand Colts – and picked up one late-season appearance for Auckland, after Lindsay Harris had been injured. It also happened to be the Canterbury match, the defence which broke the existing record. The interest stirred up by the pending record meant there was a fair bit of pressure on. In that one outing he created quite an impression, with many jotting his name down for future reference.

As usual with Ridge, he was in a hurry. The 1988 season was his first in senior ranks although he had been keen to be promoted the year before, when he played third grade. He wasn’t backward about coming forward, and quite a few people remember the very young version as a kid with no end of faith in his own ability.

While he had every reason to believe in himself, there were still plenty of rough edges, and the club’s coaches set to work. Before long, the still-developing fullback was looking a very fine prospect indeed. In 1989, following Harris’ retirement, Ridge was the undisputed number one.

Admittedly, Auckland were at the height of their powers then, with as close to a complete team as you would ever find, but Ridge fitted in perfectly. Always keen to attack and dangerous when he hit the line running, he notched 11 tries for Auckland, while he was reliable on defence and downright gutsy under the high ball. No matter what sort of pounding was waiting for him, he never flinched when a bomb went up.

Once again, he made the New Zealand Colts, and here a little-known talent revealed itself. He could kick goals with a fair degree of success. Ponsonby didn’t often use that talent – they had a bunch of very reliable kickers available – and Auckland never took advantage of it. One only needs to say ‘Grant Fox’ and the rest is understood.

What wasn’t revealed for some time was the fact Ridge would often spend hours with Fox during kicking practice, not only fielding his kicks and returning them but also doing a bit of sharp-shooting himself. Aided by tips from the master, he became very accurate. This talent was left to blush unseen in rugby circles.

At the end of 1989 Ridge was one of the new group of All Blacks introduced for the British tour. This group was considered to be the next wave; the players who would take over after the World Cup. It was one of the better years for selectors, because there wasn’t one lemon among the new boys and some went on to make huge contributions to New Zealand rugby. A very strong team completed the 14-match tour unbeaten. Ridge played six of the lesser matches and was never in contention for the test team, so well was John Gallagher playing at the time. Despite his second-string status, he was regarded as a player who had fully justified his selection.

As an aside, it’s interesting to note that Ridge did seem to mature more quickly than some of the other new boys – but only because his age was overstated, almost religiously, throughout his career. His official stats show him as being 21, whereas he was only a few weeks past his 20th birthday. Very young or very old rugby players, like women of all ages, seem to have trouble counting candles.

Counting problems or not, he could still play, and was looking good as the 1990 season kicked off. The trouble was that Gallagher looked every bit as polished as he had done for the previous three seasons and had just been named world player of the year for 1989. There didn’t seem to be a vacancy at the back, and nor was one likely for years. So when Lowe came calling, Ridge was interested. Within a week of signing, he must have wondered if he’d done the right thing. Gallagher dropped a bombshell of Hiroshima proportions by announcing that Leeds had won his wallet with a million-dollar sweetener. From having two good fullbacks available 10 days before, the cupboard was now looking pretty bare.

Ridge hung in with Manly, although only he knows what personal anguish he went through. In his first game he came through with flying colours and, handed the kicking duties by Lowe hours before the match, proceeded to pop goals over from all angles. He was on his way.

Since then, he’s become captain of the Kiwis, won a championship with Manly, returned to Auckland in a high-profile, high-dollar move which didn’t have the best on-field results and now (2001) has an executive position with the New Zealand Warriors. He also managed to upset people with rash comments and still suffers from occasional bouts of foot-in-mouth disease. Matthew Ridge, it must be said, is a player and a person who tends to polarise opinions.

Through it all, he’s won respect as one of league’s better fullbacks and one of the better goal-kickers. There is no telling what he might have accomplished in rugby union if he’d held his hand for one week longer.