Gold Coast Titans flanker Matt Petersen has been given permission to leave the club immediately to take up a 2 and a half year deal with UK Super League club Wakefield.
Originally off-contract with the Titans at the end of this season, Matt Petersen has now played his final game for the Gold Coast – unfortunately ending in a loss to the Newcastle Knights.
CEO Michael Searle commented that the NRL club didn’t want to block Petersen from accepting what was an “impressive” UK Contract.
“Matt has been great for us,” Searle said of the former Eels flanker.
“His passion and commitment both on and of the field have been perfect.”
“It was tough for us to let him leave but, we were unsure about deals for next year, it wouldn’t be right on him and his family to step in his way.”
“He’s nabbed a top Super League deal in the UK and it would have been wrong for us not to let him take this chance he had been given.”
Petersen said the contract, which was only tabled in the past week, was too lucrative not to accept.
“It just came about in the last week or so. It caught me off-guard, but I’ve had a top few years here and (the Gold Coast) is where I’ll come back to live afterwards,” Petersen said.
“It’s a 2 and a half season agreement, so I wanted to grab the chance while I am still young enough.
“This contract will help me look after my family.”
“At the same time, it’s a new adventure and very exciting for me”
Searle said Matt Petersen, 28 could be re-introduced to the Titans club in an admin role in the future.