Bennett hits out at Lodge critics

Coach says media has an agenda

WAYNE Bennett insists Matt Lodge will behave at the Broncos and has blasted the prop’s critics, accusing them of running “agendas” on the eve of his controversial NRL return.

Lodge successfully completed the captain’s run at Red Hill yesterday and will take his place in Brisbane’s starting front-row for tonight’s seasonopener against the Dragons at Kogarah.

Lodge’s registration by the NRL has been the most explosive talking point of the preseason, but the 116kg prop is now under pressure to deliver on the field in his official Broncos debut.

The American victims of Lodge’s infamous New York rampage in October 2015 have slammed the NRL for allowing him to return, but Bennett yesterday hit back at claims the Broncos have signed a poor role model.

“You (the media) have your agenda. You know that. I know that,” he said.

“I don’t know where this (criticism of Lodge) all started or why it started.

“But Matt has been good about it, he has handled it well and we have handled it well as a club. That’s all we can do.

“I saw Matt three years ago and I told him his behaviour wasn’t acceptable and if he wanted to come here he had to make some changes.

“He has been wonderful since. The last few years I have no criticism of his behaviour at all. We have worked with him for 18 months here and he has been part of the club.

“The players have embraced him. They don’t embrace fools, they don’t embrace people they don’t think have a future.

“We have all supported him and we are very happy with what he has done and where he is going.”

Bennett said Lodge enters the Dragons clash in a sound mental state and scoffed at suggestions the forward’s presence at the Broncos has tarnished the club’s reputation.

The former Tigers and Storm bookend first linked with the Broncos last year, spending the 2017 season playing for feeder-club Redcliffe in the Intrust Super Cup.

“He’s in really good shape actually,” Bennett said.

“I’m not going to detail all the changes he has made today, but I’ve seen the changes, that’s what matters.”

The Broncos will make a late reshuffle for the Dragons clash.

Hooker Andrew McCullough, named in the starting side to make his comeback from a knee injury, will return to the bench with Sam Thaiday to start in his place, opening the door for Tevita Pangai Jnr to partner Lodge in the engine room.

“Andrew won’t start,” Bennett said.

“We have to nurse him through the next four or five weeks and get him going. After that he will be starting fulltime.

“Sam will start at hooker. Sam did a good job for us last year in small bursts and that gives ‘Macca’ a bit of time off that he needs.”