Controversial Brisbane prop Matt Lodge admits he wouldn’t be playing NRL if not for Wayne Bennett but is hoping to re-sign with the Broncos even if the master coach is moved on.
Lodge says he is nutting out a contract extension with the Broncos and aims to re-sign soon, after Bennett threw him an NRL lifeline following his well-publicised 2015 New York drunken rampage.
Lodge can plan his NRL future again after reaching a settlement with the victims of his US attack, following a $1.2-million damages bill.
“Wayne put his reputation on the line to have me here. A lot of people didn’t do that,” Lodge said.
“I probably wouldn’t be playing if someone didn’t have the guts to give me another chance.”
However, his time with the man who resurrected the ex-Wests Tigers forward’s career may be limited at the Broncos after Bennett had his pitch to coach on in 2020 rejected by the Brisbane board.
Asked if he would extend his one-year deal under the proviso Bennett was coach, Lodge said: “It’s not my call. It’s not up to me.
“I haven’t recommitted here yet but I love playing under Wayne, who was the only one in the comp who put his hand up to take me back and I will always owe him for that.
“He has been here forever and the club is in good hands. At the moment I am happy playing under Wayne.”
Lodge said Bennett had not shown that the off-field controversy was affecting him before their push for a home final.
The seventh-placed Broncos take on the second-placed Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.
“He is in a similar boat to me. He doesn’t let it get to him too much,” Lodge said.
“We are more focused on the team and doing our job without taking in all the outside noise; I don’t think it is getting to him too much.
“We need to make our way into the finals but we need to lift a few gears, it’s two weeks away. That’s all I am worried about.”
Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough said it was business as usual as the Broncos look to seal a top six finish and a home final.
“Each club goes through different sagas with contracts. It’s a big business and rugby league goes on regardless; for us it is about playing good footy,” he said.
