The Warriors have vowed to take tough action against misbehaving players in an ugly final-round loss to Gold Coast that’s resulted in Matt Lodge copping a $5000 fine from the NRL.
Lodge, Kane Evans and Jazz Tevaga were all sin-binned after separate melees broke out within the final 15 minutes of Sunday’s 44-0 loss.
Former Brisbane prop Lodge then doused himself in more controversy when he raised his middle finger to the booing crowd as he was marched.
It prompted the NRL to whack him with a fine on Monday, while the Warriors have also promised to address the behaviour.
“I’m extremely disappointed. I sat there lost for words,” Warriors boss Cameron George said on Monday.
“We fell well below a performance we’ve grown to expect in our group this year.
“I know it was the last game, there wasn’t anything to play for in terms of the ladder, but there was an awful lot to play for in terms of our pride and our club and our jumper and that was let down.”
Evans is facing seven weeks on the sidelines for two separate charges from the NRL’s match review committee, but with early guilty pleas will miss five games.
A grade one dangerous contact charge for raising his elbow into Beau Fermor could cost him two or three weeks, but he’s looking at three to four weeks for grade two contrary conduct for throwing punches in the melee.
Tevaga has been handed a $1900 fine.
Lodge has also been charged for a high tackle on Tyrone Peachey and is facing a one-game ban.
It’s the third time since joining the Warriors mid-season that he’s been charged.
This year he has pleaded guilty to five MRC charges and missed four games, while Evans has missed one through suspension.
The signing of Lodge was controversial given his disciplinary record but George still has faith in the front-rower.
“Yeah absolutely, I do. But the matter we need to address with him is that disciplinary record,” George said.
“We’ll have a chat to Matt and other players about their records and what happened yesterday and make sure we do everything we can to tidy that up.
“They’re here to do a job and we expect them to get that job done, not spend more time on the sidelines than they do on the field.
“It’s pretty black and white, you play within the spirit of the game.”
Lodge took to Instagram on Sunday night to apologise for his actions, and George said all three sin-binned players were remorseful after the game.
“Once they cooled down they certainly were remorseful in their actions but for me that’s irrelevant,” he said.
“As a club we’re front-footing this, we don’t accept it and regardless of their remorse post-game we’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Same Leopards , same spots.
Tony
Roar Guru
You could be right. I didn't follow it too closely.
mushi
Roar Guru
I thought he got off on the criminal charges and lost the civil case?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Maybe Brownie could give him a face slapping and see how that goes .
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Oh, nice shot! :laughing:
Paul
Roar Guru
There's a lovely English word that best describes players like Lodge in particular - recidivists. Granted this is only used on convicted felons, but it's all about the tendency to re-offend and that sums up Lodge's career to date. Here's a 26 year old who's been around the NRL scene for 7 years, yet is a serial offender. As is the case with most offenders these days, he does something stupid then gets on social media to apologise. We the public, knowing he's going to re-offend, don't bother to acknowledge the apology, but only feel sympathy for a Club who threw him another lifeline, only for Lodge to throw it back in their faces. At some point soon, these "little chats" have to turn into ultimatums. Lodge needs to get his act together or he'll find himself out of the NRL.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
The Sri Lankan national/New Zealand refugee who stabbed six people in Auckland a few days ago… Yup, but the gun amnesty was an abject failure. Not only did it cost more to run than was actually paid out to owners, so far just over 100k guns have been handed in out of an estimated 1.5 million firearms. In regards to foreigners gaining access to guns; New Zealand is one of the easiest countries in the world to gain citizenship. The Australian Feb 2001 change of visa status for Kiwi’s, was an “unofficial” way of telling New Zealand to tighten it’s citizen requirements, as a large proportion of “Kiwi’s entering Oz on the 457 were from other countries, who had only lived in New Zealand for a few years. 10 out of the 11 Sth African, & 30 out of 32 Pilipino Lineman I worked with at a company in Melbourne, were Kiwis.
Larry1950
Guest
Can Brisbane fine him $50k to recoup some of the payout he got? Shows pushing him out the door was absolutely correct, has little game impact, always caught out lying beside the play the ball, brain snap every game.
Tony
Roar Guru
You'd think that any country worth its salt would bar entry to those with a criminal record e.g. Lodge
Micko
Roar Rookie
What “terror attack”, the Christchurch thing? The most baffling aspect of that is why the NZ government was allowing foreigners access to high powered guns & ammo, and then using that to justify disarming law abiding NZ citizens! :shocked:
adam smith
Roar Rookie
That’s an interesting point Tony. Under existing laws (with my limited knowledge & understanding of the laws), I’d say yes, they would. As New Zealand it is currently open slather in regard to letting in those with questionable character ie: all the “Kiwi/Aussie” hybrids/Mozzies being sent to Nz over the last few years. Some have shocking criminal records, others minor & some are even registered as potential/associates of terrorists. With the recent “terror-attack”, I’m not so sure…Aunty Jacinda seems to be in a hurry to rush through law’s addressing this type of issue (questionable character).
Tony
Roar Guru
Will New Zealand even let him in?
Tony
Roar Guru
I doubt if Lodge would get in the ring against a man
no one in particular
Roar Guru
All started when Wallace took another dive.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Yes, adam. The only surprise is that anybody should be surprised.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
What did the Warrior's management expect signing someone of Lodge's caliber?!?! Has to be the worst ever signing for the Warrior's & he's only played half a season. The guy has serious mental health issues, & to think things were gonna be any different was utter foolishness. Should definitely be shown the door.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Good to a club CEO accepting that their players are at fault and doing something about it. Players sent off or sin binned aren't much use to their team mates while cooling their heels in the sheds. There are times a pro foul to stop a certain try is acceptable but not stupid or illegal play. A good deterrent would be to factor into contracts pay deductions, hefty ones at that. Then maybe brainsnaps by Lodge and Evans will stop.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Tevaga has no priors, so he can be forgiven. Lodge and Evans, though, should be told to fight for a new contract, literally. Put them in the ring against one another, but tell the winner that he's not staying either. Essentially it's just an excuse to mete out the 'justice' that they seem to believe in.