Matt Lodge injury: Star Bronco on track for April return
Broncos enforcer Matt Lodge looked gone for all money when he went down with a knee injury pre-season, but the future captain looks to be on track for early return.
NRL
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- Bennett vs Broncos: Coaches at war as things get personal
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Souths super coach Wayne Bennett has come out swinging in support of Latrell Mitchell, labelling constant speculation “ridiculous” and urging critics to get off his back ahead of the Rabbitohs clash against the Broncos.
All eyes will be on Mitchell when he starts at fullback against the Broncos before 52,000 empty seats at Suncorp Stadium in the wake of his below-par Rabbitohs debut against Cronulla in Round 1.
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The NSW Origin star made just four runs for 48 metres before he was called to the sideline after 56 minutes by Bennett, who has vowed to give Mitchell time to settle into the fullback role.
Mitchell has copped enormous flak since his shock departure from the Roosters late last year, but Bennett has backed the Origin and Test ace to eventually fire at Redfern and says he will continue to protect him.
“It’s getting ridiculous,” Bennett said of the Mitchell criticism.
“I am trying to get him to settle into the club and try and minimise the unnecessary stuff that is going on around him.”
Bennett could not guarantee Mitchell will play the full 80 minutes against the Broncos.
“He may play 55 minutes again but the key for me is not trying to push him too hard at the moment,” he said.
“I want him to find his way with the blokes in the team. It is going to take time, he knows that, and I know that.
“I have no idea if he will get through the full 80, but I know this much, he will go as long as he went last week and then I will assess him after that and what we have to do or don’t have to do.”
Bennett says the latest talk about the Origin ace going to hometown Taree on his day off on Wednesday underlines the over-the-top criticism.
“I don’t see the big deal with Latrell going to Taree,” he said. “It was his day off. He wasn’t at the pub at Taree. He hasn’t done anything stupid, why would anyone even want to write about where Latrell goes?”
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PREMIER TOUCH FOR JT
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk deserves a wrap.
Not only did she fight for last week's Cowboys-Broncos clash to go ahead amid the coronavirus hysteria, but the premier lobbied for Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston to open the $293 million North Queensland Stadium.
There were plans for the premier to officially christen the magnificent new ground. Some egomaniac politicians would have jumped at the chance.
But Palaszczuk stepped aside and happily ushered Thurston on to centre stage to replicate his famous premiership-winning field goal in the 2015 grand final.
SECOND BRISBANE TEAM ALIVE
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has moved to ease fears the coronavirus saga could torpedo his plans to create a second Brisbane team for the 2023 premiership.
V’landys was due to meet with the broadcasters in July, when the ARLC chairman was to table his blueprint for a 17-team competition that included a second Brisbane club to challenge the Broncos.
But the coronavirus pandemic that has rocked the globe could have major ramifications for rugby league’s growth, especially if the NRL is forced to finally rescue a number of teams battling the COVID-19 crisis.
Should the NRL season be suspended in the coming weeks or months, it would almost certainly delay any tender process for expansion.
Such a scenario would make it almost impossible for a newly-created 17th team to have time to prepare for NRL entry in 2023.
While expansion is the last thing on V’landys’ mind at the moment, the ARLC chairman insists he will not turn his back on Queensland fans.
“Everything is on hold obviously until we overcome this crisis, but my plan for 17 teams is still intact,” he said. “If we expand, it’s not until 2023 anyway.
“It’s not as though we have to make a decision on expansion right now. We have to get through this crisis first and then we will worry about other matters.”
V’LANDYS SOLDIERS ON
Speaking of V’landys, the ARLC chairman has been a tower of strength through the coronavirus crisis.
The 58-year-old has been battling a minor virus – no, not COVID-19 – for the past two weeks but has soldiered on working 18-hour days. He was seen popping into the doctor on Wednesday for a flu shot to keep him going through the coronavirus ordeal.
LODGE ON TRACK
The Broncos are set for a massive boost with key enforcer Matt Lodge increasingly confident of returning to the field this season.
There were fears Lodge may have suffered a season-ending injury when he strained his knee at training last month, with scans showing he had sustained a partial tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
But the signs are promising. Lodge was seen at Broncos training on Wednesday without a guard on his left knee.
He will see a specialist in three weeks for another scan, but Broncos insiders are hopeful he will be cleared for Brisbane’s Round 6 clash against the Sharks on April 17.
“Lodgey had a fantastic appointment with the specialist last Thursday,” Broncos coach Anthony Seibold said.
“He was able to take his brace off that he was in for three weeks and he is able to start his return to run process now.
“We won’t rush it but he has another appointment in three weeks with the specialist. If it is still positive then the signs are good that he will get back and not have to have any invasive (surgery).
“I know talking to Lodgey over the weekend that he was upbeat about the report and that is a good thing for us as a club.”
WHO GIVES A XXXX ABOUT A LOCKOUT
Who says there is a complete crowd lockout this weekend?
The Broncos and Souths will run out before 52,000 empty seats at Suncorp Stadium, but there will be one particular diehard fan who will sneak through the skeleton-staff security at Queensland’s home of rugby league.
Mr Fourex has already set up camp on the halfway line ahead of the Bunnies-Broncos blockbuster. Let’s just hope he doesn’t chuck a XXXX at the referee if the match officials sin bin a Broncos player.
BENNETT VS SMITH
Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith called for a two-week break of the NRL season to address the coronavirus pandemic but he has found a vehement opponent in Souths super coach Wayne Bennett.
Smith expressed concerns for Australia’s elderly, including his parents, after last week’s clash against Manly. Bennett says a fortnight’s rest would be futile and urged NRL bosses to fight on for as long as they can.
“There is no merit at all in closing the game down for two weeks,” Bennett said.
“What’s the point of that? It could be six months or eight months. What will that prove? Nothing.
“I don’t see how a two-week break is going to help the NRL. If someone can convince me it will do something and help the situation we are in, I might listen to that. But right now, let's play on.
“If we’re going to have a two-week break, it will be a whole lot longer than that.
“Why don’t we close the gyms down? People exercise there and they are still open, so why are people allowed to gather there? The government haven’t suggested any other industry to close down, so rugby league should go on as a business.”
NRL WAGS STOOD DOWN
The NRL’s fan ban has also extended to the WAGS.
Blindside can reveal not even the players’ wives, girlfriends and families will be allowed near stadiums this weekend to watch their partners in action.
The NRL has issued strict instructions for the number of staff that clubs are allowed to have at games.
“It’s a game-wide approach,” Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said of the WAG ban.
“We’ve got a set number of people who are allowed in. This is all about continuing the competition and keeping it on its feet.
“We’ve got strict protocols about who’s allowed in and around the group.”
PERFECT TIMING
The Gold Coast Titans couldn’t have picked a better time to sign a cleaning services company as a sponsor.
The Titans recently added Ikon Services to their sponsorship stable and it’s come with an added bonus as hand sanitiser and cleaning chemicals became a scarce commodity.
“We’ve literally just signed Ikon Services who are a huge cleaning services provider,” said Titans CEO Steve Mitchell.
“They’ve been good. We’re fully stocked to follow our hygiene protocols.”
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INTRUST BOSS STRANDED
The major sponsor of the Intrust Super Cup is stuck in Hawaii.
Intrust Super CEO Brendan O’Farrell missed the first round of the season after heading on a well-earned holiday to the American island.
Since he’s been away, the coronavirus crisis has ramped up and the Intrust Super Cup has been suspended until at least June.
“BOF” looked into coming home from his holiday early but the few flights still operating were booked out.
O’Farrell is a loyal supporter of grassroots league and is regularly spotted at games around Brisbane.
But it will be some time before he gets to watch the competition he has thrown so much support behind.
We could think of worse places to be stranded.
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