Lodge ‘can become advocate for change’
ARL chairman Peter Beattie says the next play off the field for Matt Lodge will be the most important of his life.
The Broncos forward – under attack for his shocking domestic violence record – can become a role model and stop future DV perpetrators.
Beattie is all too aware of the backlash from fans with the front-rower being booed by opposition supporters.
“I believe rugby league is more than just a sport. It can be a means for changing people’s lives and educating for better behaviour,” Mr Beattie told the Bulletin yesterday.
“This applies in particular to domestic violence where educating young men to become role models is important.
“It is important to ensure perpetrators accept what they did was wrong, do the appropriate programs to change their behaviour and then use their transformation as example to other perpetrators that they can and should change.”
A series of incidents involving Lodge and a Sydney schoolteacher in August 2015 led to him being charged with eight counts of domestic violence.
In October that year, Lodge went on a drunken rampage in New York where he terrorised a family and was briefly held in Rikers Island jail.