{"id":388547,"date":"2026-04-20T10:15:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T10:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/388547\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T10:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T10:15:08","slug":"timoko-breaks-silence-on-contract-saga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/388547\/","title":{"rendered":"Timoko breaks silence on contract saga"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Canberra Raiders<\/a> centre Matthew Timoko<\/a> has opened up about the mental burden of swirling contract discussions, speaking out after finally making his long-awaited return to the NRL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While Timoko was stuck watching from the sidelines, nursing a foot injury picked up in the preseason and working his way back through the NSW Cup<\/a>, rumours about his future ran wild.<\/p>\n

With his deal set to expire at season’s end, albeit with club options for 2027 and 2028, whispers linking the Kiwi international to both the Perth Bears<\/a> and the Warriors grew louder by the week.<\/p>\n

It was coach Ricky Stuart<\/a> who eventually silenced the noise, confirming Timoko would remain in the nation’s capital for at least another year.<\/p>\n

By then, the damage had already been done.<\/p>\n

Timoko revealed to The Canberra Times how uncomfortable it was for him.<\/p>\n

“It just got blown out of proportion, from journalists and all that stuff,” Timoko commented.<\/p>\n

“As soon as I heard stuff coming out about myself, it was a hard one because I wasn’t playing and couldn’t back it up.<\/p>\n

“I talked a lot to Ricky throughout that patch, and talked to my manager as well, and we both agreed it didn’t come from our end.<\/p>\n

“Timoko played his first game of first grade for the season against the Storm, scoring a needed try late in the game before leaving the field with a cramp. \u00a0<\/p>\n


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