NRL happy to let Lodge play on

MATT Lodge has denied he covered up his past as NRL boss Todd Greenberg declared he would not backflip on his decision to allow the Broncos forward back into the game.

Lodge has come under fire again after a former partner made explosive allegations of domestic violence. The 22-yearold prop will return to Campbelltown on Friday night to face the Wests Tigers for the first time since they sacked him following his New York night of terror in 2015. Lodge was cleared to return to the NRL this year after missing the 2016 and 2017 seasons as he underwent rehabilitation and counselling.

The NSW Origin hopeful said he had presented his entire history to the NRL when seeking to be reinstated.

“There’s no cover-up with the NRL,” Lodge said. “They knew the full story, I kept them informed of every incident the whole way. That’s why they have allowed me to play again.”

The NRL and Broncos’ bungled handling of Lodge’s return to the game has been fiercely criticised.

Greenberg recently admitted the game should have been more transparent about the reasons for Lodge’s return.