Off-field settlement helps Lodge lift his game
BRONCOS forward Matt Lodge says he is playing with less of a weight on his shoulders after his first game since reaching a settlement with the victims of his US rampage.
Lodge and Brisbane CEO Paul White announced in the lead-up to the NRL’s representative round that a confidential agreement had been made with Ruth Fowler and Joseph Cartright after three years of ongoing issues between the pair and Lodge.
The couple – targeted in Lodge’s infamous alcohol-fuelled episode in New York three years ago – had been pursuing the 23-year-old for $1.6 million.
A compensation deal has now been agreed upon by both parties and Lodge said he already noticed the difference when he took to the field on Saturday against the Raiders.
“There’s definitely a weight off my shoulders,” he said.
“I can move forward now with a clear head. I’m just looking to build on my footy performance. I have a lot to improve on and hopefully I can just start working on that.”
The divisive prop was one of Brisbane’s strongest forwards against Canberra, running for 104m and making 20 tackles in a 48-minute performance.
He said he had been going from strength to strength for the Broncos this year but knew he had a lot to work on if he wanted to help the club be a real force in the finals series.
Lodge is off-contract but has to wait for an approval from NRL CEO Todd Greenberg before he can re-sign with the Broncos, with the governing body still assessing the repayment plan that has been made with his victims.
Lodge revealed on Saturday he was yet to hear anything but knew he would stay with the Broncos once he received that green light.
““I’m just trying to play good footy and my manager (Isaac Moses) and the club will sort that out,” he said.