Please see below an article written by Sean Teuma and first published on The Daily Telegraph on 3 February 2026.
‘We’re not bluffing’ : 30 bush footy players, officials strike after Mathew Nean’s 20-year ban not addressed
30 players and official have confirmed strike action in the Group-4 competition after Mathew Nean’s controversial 20-year suspension wasn’t addressed at a meeting. See the full list of those on strike.
The strike is on.
A total of 30 players and officials in Group 4 have indicated they will not participate in the upcoming season after a league meeting failed to meet their demands.
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the group of players, coaches, a referee and official said they would stand down if Mathew Nean’s 20-year suspension wasn’t addressed.
It stems from his suspension in the 2016 Group 4 grand final where he was handed an 18-week ban for making contact with referee James Brown, extended to 20 years after he was unsuccessful at the judiciary.
Chris Vidler is one of the 30 vowing not to participate until the suspension is overturned, and said the group believes he has been unfairly treated over the past decade.
‘We said last week we weren’t bluffing,” Vidler said.
“This isn’t about headlines. This is about standing up when something isn’t right.”
“Matt has already lost nearly ten years of his life in the game. We’ve watched him be locked out of grounds, unable to coach, unable to even support his kids properly on the sideline.”
“We were hoping this meeting would finally deal with it. It didn’t.”
“When compassion disappears, people in the community start asking whether the system treats everyone the same.”
This masthead understands in response to the strike action, an extraordinary meeting will be held this Friday afternoon to discuss Nean’s case.
The meeting was called by the Group 4 committee of the NSWRL, with current chair Shane Cullen to the chair the meeting.
Indications suggest only evidence-based material relevant to the case will be considered.
PLAYERS/OFFICALS ON STRIKE
| Chris Vidler (Moree Boars) | Jermain Walford (North Tamworth Bears) |
| Chris Hunt (Coach) (North Tamworth Bears) | Damian Ribel (North Tamworth Bears) |
| Michael Watton (Captain/Coach) (Moree Boars) | Richard Chatfield (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Mathew Wilson (Captain/Coach) (Dungowan Cowboys) | Bradley Way (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Steve Donovan (Dungowan Cowboys) | Jessie Camichael (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Malakai Johnson (Dungowan Cowboys) | Robbie Lay (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Dale Woods (Dungowan Cowboys) | Mekhi Rzadkowski (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Trent Taylor (Dungowan Cowboys) | Jayden Graham (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Farren Lamb (Narrabri Blues) | Jay Graham (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Billy Nean (Boggabri Kangaroos) | Jamie Burridge (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Mitchell Doring (Werris Creek Magpies) | Adam Cook (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Fletcher Wells (Werris Creek Magpies) | Peter Adams (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Harlee Millgate (Werris Creek Magpies) | Leroy Livermore (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Kyle Cochrane (Werris Creek Magpies) | Brayden Jerrard (Kootingal Roosters) |
| Lad Jones (Official) | Luke Brown (Referee) |
If you missed the featured story on Mathew’s ban on A Current Affair, please click HERE to watch.
