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Ryan Matterson's mum was told her son may never play rugby league again at age 18, but he will make his State of Origin debut for NSW off the bench in Game I.

It's the one time NSW State of Origin debutant Ryan Matterson is thankful he was lied to.

A rising teenage star at Parramatta back in 2012, Matterson had just turned 18 when he hurt his wrist during off-season.

Requiring a complete reconstruction, Matterson missed more than six months of football and was only able to return to under-20s the following July.

But he didn't even know half of the truth.

After undergoing surgery, a doctor told Matterson's mother Sondra that the back-rower's wrist was so badly shattered it was possible he had played his last game.

"My mum knew it would have rattled me, so she decided to keep it to herself," Matterson told AAP.

"It would have been a lot harder (for me if I knew). Because subconsciously it limits you. You think I shouldn't be doing this or you might give into that.

"She'd say 'it's alright, it's alright, the doctor said it would be (painful) but you'll be playing again soon.

"It was my second year in under-20s, and I was really stressing because I was coming off contract and I knew I needed to have a big year.

"It would have been tough on her and you never know what would have happened if she had told me ... But I'm glad it happened the way it did."

Matterson has taken the lessons from that affair to heart, shaping the way he has dealt with setbacks since.

Wednesday's looming NSW debut is a lesson in perseverance and patience.

The now 27-year-old will come off the bench for the Blues as a ball-player in the middle, but is well aware he could be thrown in on the edge in the halves with previous experience there.

It comes after the Parramatta star has had to fight off several concussions, which threatened his career, to make his maiden NSW appearance.

In total he has missed 14 weeks of football in the past four years through three separate concussions, copping his first when hit in the head with a ball at the Sydney Roosters in 2018.

Matterson is not one to underplay the issue or rush back after hits, but also knows not to listen to outside noise around his on-field future.

"What it's actually taught me is no matter what people tell you, it's on you. If you have the will power you can do it," Matterson said.

"There are so many people who have these massive injuries or car crashes where they tell them they will never walk again.

"But if you're determined and willing to put in the hard work on that pain, you can come out the other side.

"You see miracles every day just through people's will power. It just goes to show not to listen to the outside noise or how you feel."