The next year he was a surprise omission from the 1935–36 tour of Great Britain.
His teammate, Bernard Edward Rogers was knocked down during the fight and suffered a fractured skull after striking his head as he fell.
[1] Mataira switched codes in 1937, moving to Auckland and joining the City Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.
[2] He was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team 1939 tour of Great Britain and France but the tour was cancelled before any Test matches were played due to the outbreak of World War II.
After the War, Mataira represented New Zealand Māori against several touring sides.