NRL ROUND 3 TEAMS
Broncos enforcer makes remarkable recovery
THE Broncos have received a huge boost for their NRL season relaunch with chief enforcer Matt Lodge cleared to make a stunning comeback in tomorrow night’s blockbuster against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium.
Lodge suffered a partial ACL tear in March on the eve of Round 1 and there were fears he would be wiped out for the season.
But the prop has worked overtime to ensure his right knee is 100 per cent.
While cautiously optimistic Lodge would face Parramatta at Suncorp, Broncos coach Anthony Seibold wanted his No.1 prop to clear one final hurdle at yesterday’s penultimate training session at Red Hill.
The opposed session was physical and Lodge ran with confidence throughout, before Broncos medicos gave him the green light to muscle up against a monster Parramatta pack.
The NSW State of Origin hopeful is in an extended 21man squad, but will start from the bench as the unbeaten Broncos chase a third straight win and some pride after their 58-0 loss to the Eels in last year’s finals.
Seibold lauded the work ethic of Lodge, who turned to acupuncture and even set up a $10,000 gym in his home to rehab his knee and avoid season-ending surgery.
“It shows a lot of determination by Lodgey ... he has had this partial tear in his knee since 2015,” Seibold said.
“He has shown a lot of character to rehab it. It has been frustrating for him at times in regards to having such a good pre-season.
“Lodgey has a job to do off the bench on Thursday night and we expect him to play ... he’s a leader in our group.”
Lodge, who turns 25 on Sunday, played all 22 of his games last season as Brisbane’s starting prop.
But given Lodge’s injury-disrupted season, Seibold will stick with the front-row alliance of Payne Haas and Tom Flegler after their outstanding form in Brisbane’s 22-18 defeat of Souths in Round 2.