The brief phone call that ended Matt Lodge’s hopes of a Wayne Bennett reunion
Matt Lodge was confident that he was headed to South Sydney for a Wayne Bennett reunion, but one brief call blew up that plan and forced the NRL enforcer to make a surprising career pivot.Matt Lodge has revealed how failed moves to South Sydney and St George Illawarra has bizarrely resulted in a surprise return to Manly that won’t begin until May.
Lodge had been in serious talks with the Rabbitohs, then the Dragons, only for both to fall over, which prompted him to pursue two boxing bouts over the next two months.
It was the culmination of an uncertain summer that began with working three days a week in construction and ended in a fresh two-year deal with the Sea Eagles.
The NRL enforcer sits down with Tyson Jackson to discuss how he got here.
HOPPING MAD
The off-season had barely started when Lodge, who had thought he had finished his time at Manly, was linked with Wayne Bennett and South Sydney.The Rabbitohs were believed to be in the market for a front-rower following the departure of prop Tom Burgess, and a long-term injury to Junior Tatola.
Lodge, who had been coached by Bennett at Brisbane, was keen on a reunion.
But in a situation which still frustrates him to this day, Lodge was told by club official to not sign anywhere through November and December.
Just before the turn of the new year, a quick phone call all but killed that scenario.
“I had sat out of this pre-season because I had conversations. I thought it was 99 per cent over the line, and I got told to tell my family (I was coming),” Lodge told this masthead.
“Then I just had a quick call saying, ‘It’s not happening’, and he hung up. Obviously disappointing because I didn’t get paid for that couple of months and this is my livelihood.”
FIGHTING FIRE
Still clubless through the new year, the 29-year-old had all but secured a move to St George Illawarra, which would’ve been the sixth club of his career.After initially being told he would be offered a multi-year deal, it was believed all they could table was a train-and-trial deal.
However, Lodge is adamant he was only ever tabled a $300,000 one-year contract by the club.
“I was going to have to live in a hotel four nights a week,” he said.
I have four kids under seven, I’m building a place, it was getting too hard to move down there for eight months and then in eight months time look for a new place.
“An eight-month deal wasn’t long enough for me to ship a whole family down and pull them out of school.”
Lodge said the train-and-trial money wouldn’t have even covered his fuel had he stayed in Sydney.
“If I’m ever doing that … I have done it in Manly and that’s because it suits me, it’s around the corner from home,” he said.
“I have a family now, four kids, it needs to be sustainable. I have bills to pay.”
Although choosing to go in a different direction, Lodge believes the Dragons will improve under Shane Flanagan, and holds no ill will towards the club.
GLOVES UP
Lodge literally took matters in his own hands, negotiating a contract renewal at Manly that will see him tied to the club until the end of the 2026 season.The saga allowed him to lock in two fights before returning to the NRL in Rd 10.
Lodge will be on a humbling $1200 a week, a considerable step down from the multi-year deal he initially thought he had from the Dragons.
“It was a very hard call sacrificing that amount of money to come back on a part time deal. Some people around me thought I was crazy,” Lodge said.
“I want to be at Manly, and that is why I did what I did.
It’s a unique contract, which at the end of the day has helped me supplement more income and help my family.
Taking part in his second fight through former boxer Ricky Colosimo’s Wanderer Promotions, Lodge is set to battle on the same day as the Las Vegas season opener.
Colosimo is hoping Lodge can challenge some of the best in Australian boxing, and build a reputation similar to former Australian heavyweight title challenger Paul Gallen.
“Matt is genuine about his boxing ambitions and takes it seriously, unlike the majority of the cross code athletes,” Colosimo said.
“Broadcast and stadium shows are just around the corner and people will be able to see Matt’s development on a larger scale.”
Colosimo is lining up a worthy heavyweight challenger for Lodge to fight on March 2nd at the Bella Vista Hotel, before he returns to the NRL after round 10.
Tyson Jackson
