NRL bad boy Matthew Lodge has popped up playing park football at his junior club in Sydney’s west

SPORTS CONFIDENTIAL: Deregistered NRL bad boy Matthew Lodge has popped up playing park football at his junior club in Sydney’s west.

DE-REGISTERED NRL bad boy Matthew Lodge has popped up playing park football at his junior club in Sydney’s west.

Lodge is the former Wests Tigers player who was stood down by the club last year after he was charged with six counts of assault as well as malicious damage and stalking and intimidation.

That contract was later ripped up when he again landed in hot water, this time in New York where he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour reckless assault charge.

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Lodge doesn’t look like getting another NRL shot anytime soon.

It was alleged Lodge had approached two women who had hopped out of a cab, told them “this is the night you die’’, then proceeded to follow them into their apartment building. Lodge will be sentenced next month, and has since been pursued by the victims for $3 million in a civil lawsuit.

While his NRL days will not be resurrected any time soon, and the NSWRL have told him he will not be allowed play in the Intrust Super Premiership for the time being, Lodge has needed to rely on some love from St Patricks A grade side.

Some fans will question why Lodge has been allowed to continue playing rugby league at any level.

Players have been given second chances, but it’s not a great look for the game when a third and fourth lifeline are handed out.

St Patricks coach Grant Bulpett told Sport Confidential Lodge, 20, had been nothing but professional in his conduct on and off the field.

“He’s got a wealth of knowledge, and he has not only brought a lot to the A grade team, but he’s also helping out with our kids,’’ Bulpett said.

Penrith and District Junior Rugby League manager Phil Cummings, whose organisation had the power to block Lodge’s club footy aspirations, said rugby league had proven a good distraction for Lodge.

“It has probably allowed him to take his mind of things. He hasn’t caused us any problems. And we won’t tolerate any bad or anti-social behaviour,’’ Cummings said. Lodge’s team faces leaders Brothers this weekend.

ORIGIN ON PEARCE’S AGENDA

MITCHELL Pearce will put his hand up to play in the State of Origin series even though his club coach, the Roosters administration and his family have led a push to keep Pearce at the Rosters for the duration of the Origin series.

A coy Laurie Daley refused to officially comment on the selection but Sport Confidential understands Pearce phoned Daley after reading our item last week that declared he was not going to play because of his ongoing health and rehabilitation concerns.

He said he would be willing to make himself available and that he would prefer to go against the advice of his club and coach Trent Robinson.

Daley will decide on the half-back’s ­immediate future after he has played two more games for the Roosters but he is determined that Pearce and James Maloney will be his halves combination.

Daley has told NSW team staff that Pearce may be a target for criticism in the Origin team but that those issues are manageable compared with the selection crisis he faces without him.

Logies voters love the Footy Show apparently.

FOOTY SHOW’S UNEXPECTED WIN

Channel Nine’s Footy Show mysteriously won the most popular sports show on television at last week’s Logies, staving off competition from programs with much larger audiences each week.

In fact, while the panellists waxed lyrical about the show’s fourth Logie, Wednesday night’s program rated number 42 of all programs on Wednesday, beaten by Peppa Pig on ABC 2 and The Bold and the Beautiful on Channel Ten.

A meagre 153,000 tuned in to watch the program in Sydney and only 75,000 managed to switch on in Brisbane. That’s trifling stuff compared with MasterChef on nearly a million and House Rules on over 700,000.

The Wednesday night experiment is obviously not working (even with big cash giveaways) and even though it won the unpopular timeslot by 3000 from Criminal Minds on Channel Seven, Nine executives must be scratching their heads about that Logie win. The Melbourne Footy Show, with twice the number of viewers, was also nominated but once again failed to win the popular vote.

TV insiders are wondering out loud just who votes for the Sydney Footy Show and why ratings are almost at rock bottom for the once mighty juggernaut.

Walters, Inglis and Daley share a joke before Origin hostilities begin.

BEST OF FRIENDS — FOR NOW

NSW coach Laurie Daley came face-to-face with rival Queensland coach Kevin Walters and Maroons superstar Greg Inglis during the week at an 800-strong ANZ Stadium members dinner.

“We actually didn’t talk Origin — more ‘how are you going?’ and ‘what’s happening?’,” Daley said. “And a bit of a laugh, that’s all. It was all friendly before the big stuff kicks-off. ‘GI’ (Inglis) is a real good fella and I have known Kev very well for a long time.

“But when it comes to Origin, those friendships get put to one side and we get into it.”

Former head of referees Mick Stone.

MICK’S STONE COLD TRUTH

FORMER head of referees Mick Stone has sent us an email slamming the current refereeing system and the lack of instinct the current arbitrators have for the game.

He wrote: “During my time working for the league, I staunchly supported my referees from criticism, Bill Harrigan and Graham Annesley being two of them.

“They deserved no less being the sole arbiters of questions of fact on the field of play. Yes, sole arbiters. There were touch judges, but at the end of the day, they were the decision makers. And good ones. I could rail on for pages but I simply weep for the loss of skills and strength of the Bills and Grahams of times gone by.

“To have someone in a ‘bunker’ remote from the emotion and intensity of the decision-making process is to take away a vital element of the process. Feel.

“The current guys are victims of the system so don’t blame them. But I weep for people like Cummins, Maxwell et al who were once strong decision makers who have been reduced to people who have made an art form of non-decision making.

“They are rewarded for being ditherers. Watch for Atkins. One of the best young referees to come through in recent years. The system will, alas, get him unless something is done.”

Bravo Mick Stone.

Manly Marlins coach Damien “Turtle” Cummins.

TURTLE’S SEX LIFE ON HOLD

MANLY Marlins rugby union coach Damien “Turtle’’ Cummins has made the ultimate sacrifice heading into Saturday’s big local derby against fierce rivals Warringah — he’s sworn off sex.

The Marlins boss has abstained from all bedroom action in the lead-up to the game to ensure he’s as hungry and focused as possible. “Boxers have been doing it for years and I’ve got to say it’s working so far,” he told us.

“Right now I’m extremely toey and really up for it … the game, that is.”

All Blacks legend Murray Mexted and NSW Premier Mike Baird will be among the crowd at Manly Oval for one of the great days of the Shute Shield season.

SEA EAGLES PAY RESPECTS

Manly will wear black armbands in Saturday night’s match against Brisbane as a mark of respect for Darcy Lussick’s mum, Christie, who passed away on Thursday after a long illness. Darcy will play in the match as a tribute to his mum.

Originally published as NRL bad boy Matthew Lodge has popped up playing park football at his junior club in Sydney’s west