The Warriors have defended their decision to grant Matt Lodge’s release despite revelations the prop will be paid as much as $700,000 to not play for the team for the rest of this season.
Club owner Mark Robinson described it as “a simple business transaction” while CEO Cameron George .
Lodge was spotted playing rugby union for North Brisbane’s second grade team on Tuesday night with the side losing 27-14 to Bond. He didn’t just play a small cameo either with Lodge reportedly on the field for almost an hour.
The 26-year-old doesn’t have a documented history in rugby union. An official code switch would be dramatic but not unprecedented. The fact he’s without a contract and played a club game seems rather curious considering the ramifications for his own future if he did get injured.
According to a Daily Telegraph report, he will pocket $700,000 from the Warriors after gaining his release last week irrespective of whether he ends up at another NRL club or elsewhere.
Robinson weighed in to say he’d had an argument with Lodge late last year and the prop never got over it, leading to his mid-season request to leave.
George initially refused to comment on the payout due to the agreement being confidential between the player and club. He then fronted the media on Thursday.
“I don’t know whether we ever moved on from it,” George said of their verbal exchange.
“Maybe he didn’t want to play for Mark Robinson any more. Mark has to accept that. Not every player does and will in the future.
“We just sensibly sat down and worked out a way forward and that’s where we landed (by buying out his player option). Matt’s really happy, I’m really happy and I’m happy because Matt’s happy.
“If people want to be here they’ll get rewarded and be looked after and if they wish to move on and we feel that’s the best thing for the club, we go in a separate direction.
“Absolutely don’t regret signing Matt Lodge. I got to know Matt quite well; him and his family are wonderful people and Matt’s a hardworking person.”
Robinson added: “He was unhappy so I bought him out of his option for next year and we parted ways. He didn’t like the club and he obviously didn’t like playing for Mark Robinson. I got over it, but I can’t answer for Matt Lodge,” Robinson said in the News Corp interview.
Panthers deputy chairman Greg Alexander on SEN Radio on Thursday morning could not believe the Warriors would dish out a small fortune to Lodge when he was only contracted for 2023 if he took up a player option in his deal. He had earlier rejected a three-year extension on the grounds that he did not want to relocate from their temporary base of Redcliffe to Auckland.
“We can’t get our head around why the Warriors have had to pay him out if he had a player option,” he said.
“They were prepared to sign him for another three years so it wasn’t as if they wanted to get rid of him. They wanted him for another three years and he said I’m not taking up that option, I’m not moving back to New Zealand, I’m out.”
Hasler ‘can’t remember’ ref rant as fine looms
Des Hasler is set to cop a hefty fine over his referee rant following last Friday’s dramatic loss to Parramatta and prop Josh Aloiai could also be sanctioned after doubling down on the Manly coach’s comments.
Hasler claimed the match officials had “legged” the Eels back into the contest in the lead-up to Will Penisini’s try a couple of minutes from full-time sealing a 22-20 come-from-behind triumph.
In yet another strange Hasler moment, he claimed at his captain’s run media conference on Wednesday that he “couldn’t remember” what he’d said about the refs five days earlier and that he “wouldn’t have said anything controversial, that’s for sure”.
He said he had spoken with the NRL to clarify his points of contention and he had asked for inconsistencies around high tackles and offside rulings to be reviewed.
The NRL is set to hand down a five-figure fine to Hasler, who has a lengthy history of questioning the integrity of referees.
While not wanting to discuss the specifics of Hasler’s case, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said referees needed to be shown more respect.
“It’s important for a professional sport for everyone – whether it’s the players, the coaches, the administrators, the fans – everyone needs to have a level of professionalism and a level of respect for the match officials,” he said while launching Indigenous Round.
“They’re not perfect, they do make mistakes and we have to keep it all in perspective.”
He added coaches and players “set the example for what happens across fields across Australia at a mass level. There will be decisions that go against you, I understand how much is at stake and the passion everyone has for winning. But I think everyone needs to accept there are things that we do say and can say, and there are things we don’t say.”
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Hasler was furious over a late penalty against Christian Tuipolotu which preceded Parramatta’s final set.
“It wasn’t high. It was a good tackle. It was a brave tackle. They’re called a try save. The idea of the game is defence and the idea of a try save is to come up with big plays,” he fumed in the post-match media conference.
“It was a great play. It just adds to the disappointment on the result on the back of a 9-2 penalty count. They got legged back into the game.
“Some very dubious calls … I’m sure Benny (referee Ben Cummins) will review his game.”
Front-rower Josh Aloiai on Tuesday told reporters at a Manly media session that:
“I thought we were pretty hard done by, for the most part. The ref done us no favours, particularly in the back end of the game. I think he done a bad job and we didn’t get away with the win. So I’m pretty unhappy with him, to be honest with you.”
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
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Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves escaped suspension for his foul-mouthed blow-up last weekend and his coach Trent Robinson claimed frustration at referee Gerard Sutton was justified.
Robinson argued his star prop was a target for officials, and it was only his expletive delivery that let him down on Saturday.
Waerea-Hargreaves was sin-binned for twice swearing at Sutton in the Roosters’ 32-12 loss to Penrith, but the veteran forward was only fined $1800 after the Match Review Committee handed him a grade one contrary conduct charge.
Collecting James Fisher-Harris high as the Panthers prop crossed to score late, Waerea-Hargreaves exploded as he was called out to be placed on report and told Penrith would be awarded a potential eight-point try.
Abdo also rejected the latest installment of critics claiming the bunker should be blown up by saying “there’s not a professional sport in the world that doesn’t use technology to assist in getting the balance right between accuracy and continuity”.
He said the use of 360-degree angles from replays of multiple cameras gave officials a much better chance of getting decisions correct.
Aitken opts for Dolphins
The Dolphins are continuing to build an impressive forward pack for their debut NRL campaign, adding Warriors second-rower Euan Aitken.
Aitken, 26, had already announced he would not head back to Auckland for the 2023 season and he won’t have to move far at all, remaining in the same Redcliffe base the Warriors have played out of through the COVID period.
He joins a Dolphins forward pack that already includes Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi.
Aitken, whose deal with the Warriors was initially due to expire at the end of next season before he secured his early release, said his decision was about putting family first.
“If it was up to just me I probably would have gone (to NZ) and seen out the contract because I do like the club, it’s got some great people and it’s got some great people running the place,” he told reporters.
“So there’s definitely some fond memories here and it’s definitely a hard decision to leave because there’s definitely great people and it’s going to go places in the near future.”
Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader said the 143-gamer’s experience would be vital in building the new club.
“Importantly, he is skilful enough to play either centre or on the edge at second row, and that is a valuable commodity in today’s NRL competition,” he said.
“He will also be able to bring some familiarity around our home base for our new squad after spending a full season training and playing there with his current club.
“Euan and the Warriors are currently three wins from three games at our home base of Moreton Daily Stadium this season – we hope he can see the same results with the Dolphins next year.”
It’s another blow to the Warriors’ forward stocks having cut prop Matt Lodge last week, although they will gain Newcastle’s Mitch Barnett in 2023.
They’ll also be without Chanel Harris-Tavita, who will take a break from the game after this season.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Cowboys posse in mix for Origin selection
The Cowboys’ ladder surge has as many as 10 players in the mix for State of Origin selection.
Reuben Cotter, who will start in the front row against Penrith, and second-rower Jeremiah Nanai have reportedly caught the eye of new Queensland coach Billy Slater.
Experienced forward Coen Hess, whose last of six appearances came in 2020, is another hoping to hear from Slater when he settles on his 22-man squad after Round 12.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Heilum Luki and Tom Gilbert are also in Queensland contention while Reece Robson and Jordan McLean are outside chances to make the NSW squad.
“The club’s in a really fortunate position, I think we’re going so well that heaps of names are getting thrown into the hat which is really exciting,” Hess said.
“The way that I got selected in the past was just worrying about club form and playing well so that’s where my head space is at.
“Having had experience, if I was lucky enough to get selected I’d be more than comfortable doing my job.”
Preparing for an epic battle against Penrith, North Queensland are keeping the blinkers on rather than worrying about what the premiers may throw at them.
The Cowboys head to BlueBet Stadium on Friday night riding high after six successive wins to move to third on the ladder, while the front-running Panthers have back-to-back NRL premierships firmly in sight.
Hess has been tasked with replacing injured superstar lock Jason Taumalolo while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has come in for Kyle Feldt, who also has a knee injury.
The pair went down early in North Queensland’s statement win over fellow heavyweights Melbourne last round.
Hess has been playing mostly as a front-rower this season but said he wouldn’t try to change too much at lock.
He said they would try to focus more on themselves than on their opponents after finding success in the method last round against the Storm.
“I remember when we versed the Roosters (in round four), we were more worried about them where as going into the Melbourne game last week, we just focused on us and what we need to do well and executed that,” the 25-year-old said.
“There will probably be a similar thing going into the Panthers game.
“We know what they can do – they’ve got strike power all over the field and if you focus on too many of their players, you get caught up in what you’re doing.”
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Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
It's really tiring and tedious to explain and to read. Do you really wanna know what a z-grade does pre match other than forget his whistle, go to the wrong ground, rock up 10 mins before kick off, forgets the captains name...
steveng
Roar Rookie
:laughing: ZBS ok we're all human I understand that but, where is the basics? As if you apply the basics the rest don't get too complicated? Its a law of physics, as surely you must have a pre game plan and give both sides and coaches the strict brief? As surely there is certain and basics of what a referee will enforced and it has to be made pre game! As one of the most frustrating and annoying things that spoil the NRL and this in every game (some more than others) is the rabble in the rucks, the laying of tacking players all over a tackled player, the wrestle and the slowing down of the play the balls! Don’t you guys ever warn pre game every side, that once you call "held and play the ball" that the tackle is make and finished and that all tackling players have 3 seconds (or there should be a strict designated time) to get off, otherwise its a penalty or a 6 again or even a sin bin or even a send off in an intentional dangerous and/or certain try scoring case? As I’ve very rarely seen that as its spread like a virus in the last 5 years and ever since the Storm started it, this is to every team in the NRL, as and if you look, all players just lay on top of a tackled player (after the tackle was completed, and they look up and wait for the HELD call? As that's why the referring in the NRL such a rabble and everything else stems from that. I just think that allot of the referring is at best add hock as allot of referees “as you have pointed out ”There’s loads of decisions we make and don’t make and some we don’t even remember” I think the “don’t remember and don’t make” is a big worry.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
How quickly they forget Greg Hartley and all the goo work he did for the club...
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Tim, agree about foul play but they have become a little over the top at times in that respect, however without writing an article as you say, my opinion is that they are playing the game at a breakneck speed and have removed just about every facet of one on one competition out of the game. Even the scrum was once a contest.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Referring isn't perfect. Never has been, never will be. That's the case with everything in life. If rules are flawed, that's an issue with the rules, not the referees enforcing them. Has the game progressed for the better? A very complicated question. I like that they're moving in the right direction in terns of foul play, but I don't think they're doing enough. But there's too many facets overall to cover without writing an article.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I'm a ref and seriously trying to explain decision making in one instance as compared to another? There's loads of decisions we make and dont make and some we don't even remember. Often the ones we don't make are more memorable. "Why didn't you penalise him for tackling him in the air?" "Cause he was contesting the ball" (had that one last weekend, actually) "Why didn't you call that head high?" "Which one?" "Why did you call that six again in the 10th minute but not later when the opposition did the same thing?" "If it was the same thing in my view, I would have called it. Given there was about 300 play the balls you might need to be more specific" "Why didn't you call him offside?" "If we call every winger offside who is on the opposite side of the field to where the ball goes, how do you think Gus and Mick Ennis will react? Yeah, nah" "Why did you blow 8 penalties against one team in the final minutes?" "Because I thought they were penalties" Let's just stick with Annesley
Adam Clements
Roar Rookie
Lodge getting paid out his player option for next year tells you the entire story. If he was in the wrong, there’s no way they’d pay out his player option for next year. Something more to this story, watch this space.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
It is a mess , I thought that I made it pretty clear when I said "until you lot decided to play around with the rules to the extent the game hardly represents what we started with." Fix the rules & you fix the ref issues. The administration has made it so hard for the referees to do their job. The question I ask you Tim Has the game progressed for the better????
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Nah Manly are okay. I don't hate them. They ain't the silvertails of the NRL no more but equally they will never be the brown noses.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yep, get them refs in front of the camera and in a post match briefing and let them give us their views, as the way it is, its a closed secretive shop of tricks! That is why the fans especially post game need a balanced view and allot of educating of what the refs interpretation of the rules are and how they work things out and they make their decisions. I think that would be a fair thing and would calm things way down.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Ahh the Grasshopper! I agree mate. I think we have stripped the refs of any personality or opinion.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Then and on the other hand, as you can add another classic from a ref when the Grasshopper was aked…”How do you account for the fact that in your nine matches Queensland won seven and NSW won only two?”, Gomersall was said to have replied “Well, surely anyone’s entitled to two bad games.” :laughing: so I fully agree, get them refs in front of them cameras and let’s hear their excuses and comedy as “WE DEMAND IT” :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
no one in particular
Roar Guru
It is swings and roundabouts. As fans its not worth the blood pressure issues to dwell on it. It's human nature to remember every decision that goes against us, but quickly forget the ones that bounce our way. Look at the game from last week. Parra won the penalty count 9-2, had no restarts against them, Manly lost a player in the final minutes, and that was when they went ahead (if the numbers aren't right, they are close). Sometime this season Parra will be on the receiving end of that, and Manly will be the recipient in another game. Both fan bases will forget last week happened Coaches are smart enough to know this. They do get emotional about it, but they also do ham it up to get into the refs and Annesleys head. Bennett was the master of it, Hasler isn't bad at it either.
Adam
Roar Guru
Oh yes I'm aware of that conspiracy. It's actually lead by Grant Atkin's mother
Albo
Roar Rookie
After following this great game for 50 plus years, I am even more convinced of just accepting the various good and bad decisions as "swings & roundabouts". Some games things favour you , sometimes they don't, but over a time I reckon things even themselves out. I did a quick analysis of my Panthers this year, a team that is travelling very well currently and averaging 30 points to 12 per game. As far as the penalty counts go they have won just 4 of the 11 match penalty counts , drawn one (7-7) against the Knights, and lost the other 6 counts. Generally the counts have been pretty close each match with the outliers being a favourable 11-4 count against the Raiders and a 2 - 6 count against the Eels. But over the 11 matches the penalty count total is 69 for & 67 against. Swings & Roundabouts.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Lou Costello !
no one in particular
Roar Guru
There is only a conspiracy against one team, and we all know that is the Bunnies. Even the club CEO is apparently part of it
DavMan
Roar Rookie
A bit difficult in rural South Australia, Tim. I actually have great respect for referees. I just feel the NRL are making the refs' job more difficult than it needs to be with knee-jerk rule changes.
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah but at the presser you aren't throwing your players or self under the bus. I'm just not certain why we have the insightful coach interviews when we know they'd have to be crazy to tell us anything meaningful.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Unless it’s Cummins then it’s a penalty then another then another then another then another then another then another…… and none the other way