Matt Lodge will miss the next two NRL rounds for Brisbane unless he can beat a dangerous contact charge.
The prop was hit with a grade-two offence for taking out the legs of Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster after the No.6 kicked at the end of first set of Thursday night’s season opener at AAMI Park.
With prior non-similar offences, Lodge’s sanction carries 280 demerit points, meaning he will miss two matches regardless of whether he pleads guilty or fights the charge at the judiciary and loses.
The loss of the controversial forward against North Queensland and St George Illawarra would be a harsh blow for the Broncos after the Melbourne loss.
They’e already without up-and-coming forward Payne Haas who is serving an off-field suspension until round five, while fellow middle man Tevita Pangai Junior is struggling with a hamstring injury and limited to coming off the bench.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
He can take a holiday in New York for a fortnight & look up old friends.
U
Roar Rookie
That’s not like him at all
Nat
Roar Guru
I'd be surprised if the Broncos contested. I'd be far more surprised if MRC downgraded. It would be a massive show of weakness on what was blatant. 2 wks is fair, if he hit a smaller ball player, there could have been a significant injury.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Definitely nothing to lose...I meant the bet more from the judiciary point of view that they roll over and downgrade the charge.
John
Guest
That's one of the safest bets out there with nothing to lose on his part.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think two weeks is a fair cop but what the bet he contests, gets it downgraded and he only gets a week...?
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
My natural feelings of loathing and disgust for Matt Lodge aside, I agree with the proposed ban. Tackles like that have no place in the game. The tackle was late and took Munster's legs out from under him while he was in the air and unprotected. There was clearly no control in the tackle, no concern for Munster's safety while in a vulnerable position and no effort to help him land safely. Now watch Sam Burgess do something stupid tonight and back me into a corner. Sam? Don't start me Sam! DON'T start me!