NRL ‘ knew the full story’ before giving green light
NRL boss Todd Greenberg says the only comparison that can be made between troubled pair Todd Carney and Matt Lodge is how much rehabilitation they’ve done.
Greenberg revealed yesterday he had formally asked Carney and North Queensland to show the steps he’d taken to ensure there would be no repeat of his long list of misdemeanours.
“We have written to the club and to his manager putting in some steps and a process of which we will consider a registration,” Greenberg said yesterday. “I understand that information will come through over the next week or so.”
Only then will he consider registering Carney’s one- year contract with the Cowboys, paving the way for him to end his three- year exile from the NRL. The 31- year- old hasn’t played first grade since his contract was torn up by Cronulla for his infamous “bubbler” photo, adding to a long list of off- field incidents.
In recent weeks, Carney’s attempted comeback has been compared to that of Lodge, who has returned with Brisbane despite the furore surrounding his New York rampage in 2015.
Lodge again came under fire last weekend after details emerged of vi- MATT Lodge denies 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 following explosive allegations of domestic violence by a former partner. olence against his former partner in the same year, which resulted in him pleading guilty to common assault.
Greenberg said he could understand why people would compare the two players.
“The comparison that we will draw will be very much about the work that’s been undertaken in order to return to the game,” he said. “I would like to see what counselling work he’s done, what rehabilitation work he’s done, what commitment he’s made in order to ensure he gets a new contract.
“That’s the work and that’s the information we’ll be assessing.”
The 22- year- old prop will return to Campbelltown Stadium 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 ’ 17 seasons as he underwent rehabilitation and counselling.
And the NSW Origin hope- ful said he had presented his entire history to the NRL when seeking to be reinstated.
“There’s no cover up with the NRL,” Lodge told News Corp.
“They knew the full story, I kept them informed of every incident the whole way.
“That’s why they have lowed me to play again.”
The NRL’s and Broncos’ bungled handling of Lodge’s return to the game has been al- met with fierce criticism and Greenberg recently conceded the game should have been more transparent.
Greenberg yesterday said he would not backflip on his decision to let Lodge back in.
“Everything that was written and said over the course of the weekend was not new information to us,” he said.
“The integrity unit had assessed all of that information.”
The NRL and Broncos have been criticised for allowing Lodge back despite the victims of his well publicised New York rampage having not been financially compensated.
“This is a game that divides opinions and everyone is entitled to have their opinion,” Greenberg said.
“We make decisions which sometimes aren’t popular and will divide opinion.”