Matt Lodge to be starting prop for Brisbane Broncos, says coach Wayne Bennett

WAYNE Bennett will take one of the biggest selection gambles of his 40-year career by installing former bad boy Matt Lodge as his starting prop for 2018.

Matt Lodge will start at prop for the Broncos. Picture: Annette Dew

WAYNE Bennett will take one of the biggest selection gambles of his 40-year career by installing former bad boy Matt Lodge as his top prop for Brisbane’s premiership campaign.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Lodge will be pitchforked into Brisbane’s starting front-row for the 2018 premiership — despite the controversial forward not having played in the NRL for three seasons.

In the space of two years, Lodge has gone from an American jail cell to the $85,000 Broncos recruit who will spearhead Brisbane’s pack in their season-opener against the Dragons next March.

Lodge only officially launched his Broncos career on Thursday, but Bennett believes the 22-year-old can solve the front-row conundrum that could make or break Brisbane’s title ambitions next season.

Matt Lodge will start at prop for the Broncos. Picture: Annette Dew

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The 116kg giant has played just 12 NRL games, but with the Broncos losing key props Adam Blair (Warriors) and Herman Ese’ese (Newcastle), Bennett is banking on Lodge to give Brisbane some engine-room mongrel.

It is the ultimate show of faith by Bennett, who knows a quality prop when he sees one, having mentored legendary Broncos front-rowers Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva.

Lodge is one of the lowest-paid players in Brisbane’s new 30-man roster, but Bennett confirmed the hulking prop would bypass the bench and become his No.1 bookend.

“I’ll be starting with Matt,” the Broncos coach said.

“Look, he’s a huge body. I believe he’s got the ability to handle the step up.

“Matt is a talented young prop. He is a rare talent for the position that he plays and he impressed me with the way he fitted in at our training sessions (last season as a member of Brisbane’s feeder-club Redcliffe).

“Adam Blair is moving on, so having Matt’s presence will help us enormously in the front row.”

Matt Lodge during pre-season training with the Broncos. Picture: Annette Dew

It is understood player power was a factor in Bennett’s decision.

Brisbane’s senior players were stunned by Lodge’s skill level and tactical understanding of the game when he joined the squad for weekly training sessions at Red Hill last season.

When he returned to Redcliffe for Intrust Super Cup duty, Lodge operated like a monster halfback, largely running the Dolphins’ on-field plays and structures for coach Adam Mogg.

Such knowledge prompted Broncos stars to urge Bennett to sign Lodge at all costs and catapult him straight into Brisbane’s starting front-row for the new season.

Former Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler, who watched Lodge closely last season as a commentator for the Intrust Super Cup, backed the rookie prop to fill Blair’s void.

“Lodge will handle a starting role easily,” Sattler said.

“If he was coming back from a long lay-off due to injury, I would question that, but Wayne Bennett knows better than most how dominant he was in the Intrust Super Cup last season.

“Lodge has pretty special skills — his physicality is perfectly suited to the NRL.”