Matt on track but Bird has way to go
WAYNE Bennett has hailed Matt Lodge’s return to the NRL as “remarkable” but admitted $3 million recruit Jack Bird would need time before he was at his very best for the Broncos.
Lodge was one of Brisbane’s best in Friday night’s contro- versial 9-7 Round 3 goldenpoint win against his former club Wests Tigers in Sydney.
He racked up 16 runs for 145m and 22 tackles in his first match against the club that sacked him following his New York rampage in 2015.
The 22-year-old’s return to the NRL this season following more than two years out of the game has been met with fierce criticism.
Lodge is yet to pay $1.6 million in compensation to the victims of his rampage in New York and has been embroiled in domestic violence allegations by a former partner.
He has delivered on the field in three appearances for the Broncos, taking his career tally to 15 NRL games, and repaid the faith shown in him by Bennett.
“He is brave, there is no doubt about that,” said Bennett. “He will only get better with time.
‘‘He is working his way in. It is remarkable what he is doing with the amount of pressure he has been under.’’