Player Matthew Ridge

[John Nick]

I use to have some dealing with NRL players back when he was playing. Still remember him giving Ian Roberts shit only to start backing away when he saw Ian Roberts start to get mad.

Wouldn't blame him for that.

 

[WA Warrior]

Wouldn't blame him for that.

Yeah Robert’s vs Ridgey in the 90s?
Ridgey wouldn’t even make it to the Warriors after Robert’s was through with him.

 

[Inruin]

I use to have some dealing with NRL players back when he was playing. Still remember him giving Ian Roberts shit only to start backing away when he saw Ian Roberts start to get mad.

Backing away would be the better option than backing in to Ian Roberts wouldn't it?

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Backing away would be the better option than backing in to Ian Roberts wouldn't it?

I do not know him at all but from what I saw he seemed the type of guy that starts talking first then his brain catches up later.

 

[Beastmode]

I do not know him at all but from what I saw he seemed the type of guy that starts talking first then his brain catches up later.

He was definitely a basket case and not the sort of role model you should be playing +750K as your marqueee player.

Ridgey should be grateful. No way any other club would have offered that sort of coin

But it’s good that’s he open and reflective of his life at his current age. Most are old fat, resentful and grumpy like myself …

 

[John Nick]

Backing away would be the better option than backing in to Ian Roberts wouldn't it?

Backing away would be the better option than backing in to Ian Roberts wouldn't it?

Something you not telling us.

 

[VB89]

I do not know him at all but from what I saw he seemed the type of guy that starts talking first then his brain catches up later.

Funny you say that and funny about the Ian Roberts story because some tidbits from the recent 2 Beers and Sports Cafeish podcasts hes been on:

• John Kirwan told a story how on the team bus with the All Blacks, he turned around and called Richard Loe a ‘fat b*stard’ in jest and Loey gave him a huge whck
• Once he was having a dig at Jarrod McCracken and trying to wind him up when he finally cracked and in Ridgey’s words “b*tch slapped me”
• Touched a couple times how Marc Ellis was always the guy that “worried about what people thought of him” but Ridgey never cared. And on TV would often play up that side because it made for good TV for Ridgey to be the one that everyone despised.

Think he definitely just enjoys digging at people to the point where they clearly want to give him a whack lol.

BTW the 2 Beers podcast is excellent. Im only halfway through but Ridge does not hold back with his opinions. He shoots it straight 100% and if he brings up anybody’s name he’s quick to say whether he actually liked them or not. So refreshing having a personality being interviewed and just being 100% honest and not tryna come across as a good guy who thinks everyone was awesome etc.

 

[Horriors2013]

Something you not telling us.

Ian Roberts wouldn't mind lol

 

[Zaggo]

He was very good on the Sports Cafeish poddy I thought, particularly that he, JK and Marc could all speak to their cross-code experiences.

As VB89 noted above, it's refreshing when you get actual answers from a bloke versus something sanitised.

 

[Teets]

The way he spoke about Zinnys prospects as a league player were interesting.

Would've been too slow to play on an edge in his eyes so would've been a prop who wouldnt be able to do all the silky skilful shit that made him Zinny in union.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

The way he spoke about Zinnys prospects as a league player were interesting.

Would've been too slow to play on an edge in his eyes so would've been a prop who wouldnt be able to do all the silky skilful shit that made him Zinny in union.

A perfect lock?

 

[Matiunz]

He was a massively niggly prick when he was a player that you liked if he was on your team but despised if he was on the opposition, he was able to get under a players skin pretty easily.
On some of his early tv work he gave the impression that he didn’t like being the but of the joke and couldn’t take as much as he gave, however he seems to have matured alot and in recent interviews he’s seemed very self aware of who he is and completely at peace with himself which is rare to see in anyone

 

[John Nick]

He was a massively niggly prick when he was a player that you liked if he was on your team but despised if he was on the opposition, he was able to get under a players skin pretty easily.
On some of his early tv work he gave the impression that he didn’t like being the but of the joke and couldn’t take as much as he gave, however he seems to have matured alot and in recent interviews he’s seemed very self aware of who he is and completely at peace with himself which is rare to see in anyone

Best defense organizer I can remember

 

[Teets]

A perfect lock?

Bradley Clyde.

 

[Inruin]

He was a massively niggly prick when he was a player that you liked if he was on your team but despised if he was on the opposition, he was able to get under a players skin pretty easily.
On some of his early tv work he gave the impression that he didn’t like being the but of the joke and couldn’t take as much as he gave, however he seems to have matured alot and in recent interviews he’s seemed very self aware of who he is and completely at peace with himself which is rare to see in anyone

Don't know if he minded too much about being the butt of jokes or not, but sometimes he didn't help himself. Did a good doco with Michael O'Connor called The Converts. They went and played golf. I think it was on this doco or could have been another. Ridge said something like 'how are you supposed to hold these golf bats?'

 

[snake77]

Don't know if he minded too much about being the butt of jokes or not, but sometimes he didn't help himself. Did a good doco with Michael O'Connor called The Converts. They went and played golf. Ridge said something like 'how are you supposed to hold these golf bats?'

The Converts is currently up on YouTube. I've was watching a bit of it a few weeks ago. Also recently watched the documentary where they followed Ridge with his transition to league. Good memories watching those when I was young.

The Mal Meninga one was also a good watch.


On the Ian Roberts discussion earlier. I saw him walking through Takapuna about 10 years ago. He must have been over here filming something as it was when he was in a few files/shows. He's a big dude. He was still carrying a fair bit of muscle even then.

 

[Inruin]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFrxRmxr3Ec

 

[Inruin]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MiSY4m_3uCc

 

[Beastmode]

Best defense organizer I can remember

Yes when he wasn’t getting KO’d from going low

Same with Toovey. Best tackler in the comp but he took some serious knocks to the head in between

 

[John Nick]

Yes when he wasn’t getting KO’d from going low

Same with Toovey. Best tackler in the comp but he took some serious knocks to the head in between

I am talking about organizing the defensive line.
Would demand players to come over to cover gaps