NRL bad boy Matt Lodge SLAMS Brisbane Broncos ‘old boys’ despite being given a lifeline by the club

It’s been seven years since Matt Lodge’s infamous drunken rampage in New York and the front-rower has finally found peace with the Roosters – but he’s still not happy about how he was treated by the Broncos ‘old boys’.

On Sunday, Lodge will play his 100th NRL game in the sudden-death showdown between the Roosters and Souths at Allianz Stadium.

Just a few months ago the 27-year-old’s career was in limbo – and now with a Rooster’s lifeline – the prop could remarkably find himself winning a premiership.

Lodge pictured with his fiance Jessica O’Sullivan and son while playing for the Broncos

 Lodge faced 25 years’ jail before the plea deal with prosecutors. Brisbane handed the prop a way back into the NRL after his arrest in New York

Lodge has come a long way since his wild night in America in 2015 when he was arrested at gunpoint by New York police for a rampage through a family’s apartment. 

The 193cm prop would spend two weeks in Rikers Island prison and pay a big sum in compensation to his victims.

The Broncos threw Lodge a lifeline in 2018 and copped a lot of backlash, but Lodge made a go of it and played 65 games for the club. At one point, former Broncos staff suggested he be named the club captain.

Lodge could never win over the club’s old boys, however. And when Kevin Walters was appointed coach in September 2020, he couldn’t wait to show the controversial prop the door. 

Matt Lodge played 65 games for the Broncos, but Kevin Walter’s arrival as coach in 2021 spelt the beginning of the end for Lodge. Walters and the club’s ‘old boys’ didn’t believe Lodge fitted the culture of the club

‘The old boys of Brisbane are very publicly opinionated more than any other club,’ Lodge told News Corp.

‘I guess they’re proud, and a lot never took to me being signed, let alone being asked to captain the club,’ Lodge said.

‘They were all Kevvie’s mates and I knew if he got the job I was gone, even if I was playing well. I knew it wasn’t footy related.

‘Kevvie got the job and he rang my agent within the first day to move me on and said he would pay whatever it takes.

‘In the end, I sat down with Kevvie at least five times (to discuss his future).

‘Each time he changed his mind, and that repeated through the pre-season and premiership games, right up until the day I signed my papers to leave.

‘My head was just gone. It was a tough day leaving the Broncos, but I knew my time there was up. It’s a brutal game and when your heart’s not in it playing for your coach, you are as good as retired.’

Matt Lodge, pictured with his fiance Jessica and son, has slammed the Broncos ‘old boys’ for his treatment despite his career lifeline

Lodge (right) is now at the Roosters, and thriving, after a stint with the Warriors since leaving Brisbane 

 Lodge is grateful to those at the Brisbane club who did think he was worth a second chance, though.

 ‘I’ll always appreciate what the Broncos and Redcliffe did for me. I don’t think many other coaches could have endured the backlash so I’ll always be thankful to Wayne and Peter Nolan (former Broncos football boss) was like a dad to me.

‘I worked so hard for those first couple of years in the NRL. I basically played for free (to fund compensation for the victims of his incident in America) and I finally earned a five-year deal.

‘I loved the Broncos. I felt I owed them and was prepared to play my whole career there.’

Matt Lodge, pictured with his fiance Jessica O’Sullivan, has turned his career around

Lodge is a free agent next season and not sure what the future holds, but based on his recent form for the Chooks, they may find a way to keep him on their books.

 ‘I don’t know what the future holds for me after some tough seasons, but I’m just present in the moment and enjoying every week at the Roosters.

‘I’m so happy I backed my gut feeling … and that the Roosters backed me.’