Former rugby league player turned actor Matt Nable has returned to the screen in the Netflix survival thriller Thrash, which has surged to the top of the platform’s global charts following its release.
The film, directed by Tommy Wirkola, was released on April 10, 2026 and quickly became the most-watched movie on Netflix worldwide.
Set in a coastal town facing a Category 5 hurricane, the story follows multiple characters trapped by rising floodwaters as sharks begin to infiltrate the area.
The cast is led by Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou, with Nable appearing as Billy Olsen.
Nable’s role places him among a group of characters attempting to navigate the flooding and survive the escalating danger as the disaster unfolds.
Before his acting career, Nable played rugby league in the 1990s, featuring for the Manly Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs, as well as stints in England with Carlisle and the London Broncos.
Former rugby league star Matt Nable forged a career in film and television after his playing days
He appears in the new Netflix movie Thrash, playing a beer-swilling, country music and rifle-loving small town American
The over-the-top thriller sees a small US town invaded by bull sharks after a hurricane strikes
After retiring, he moved into writing and acting, writing and starring in The Final Winter in 2007.
He has since built a screen career across film and television, with credits including Killer Elite, Riddick, Hacksaw Ridge and The Dry.
His television work includes Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Underbelly: Badness, Mr Inbetween, The Twelve, Last King of the Cross and Bay of Fires. He also portrayed Ra’s al Ghul in Arrow and appeared in Legends of Tomorrow.
The production of Thrash began in Melbourne in July 2024, despite the film being set in the United States.
It was initially developed by Sony Pictures before distribution rights were transferred to Netflix ahead of release.
The project also underwent multiple title changes during development, including Beneath the Storm and Shiver, before settling on Thrash.
The film has generated strong audience engagement online, with viewers sharing reactions.
‘I loved it. I was tense all the way through, but it was great,’ one posted.
Thrash is a return to television for Nable who has starred in a range of different roles throughout his career
Nable’s career has been quiet since the tragic death of his brother, with Thrash a return to form
Another wrote: ‘I was holding my breath the entire time, so intense. A phenomenal movie.’
Critical reception has been mixed, with review aggregator scores sitting below 50 per cent, although some outlets noted the film’s combination of natural disaster elements and shark-based suspense.
Away from the screen, Nable has continued to work across acting and media, including roles in recent television productions and involvement in sports broadcasting projects linked to rugby league coverage.
He has also spoken publicly about the death of his brother Aaron, who died from motor neurone disease in 2024.
‘I won’t ever be the same. I won’t be whole again and that’s part of life,’ Nable said.
