Matt Lodge to square off with new role model Russell Packer at Campbelltown Stadium

MATT Lodge has appealed for NRL fans to forgive him for his sins as the besieged Broncos prop prepares to square off against fellow former jailbird Russell Packer on Friday night.

MATT Lodge has appealed for NRL fans to forgive him for his sins as the besieged Broncos prop prepares to square off against fellow former jailbird Russell Packer on Friday night.

Lodge and Packer will meet in a fierce front-row showdown at Campbelltown Stadium and the Broncos bookend admits the Wests Tigers prop has become the ideal role model in his quest for rugby league redemption.

The Lodge-Packer narrative is compelling. Packer was sentenced to two years jail, later reduced to 12 months, for a vicious assault in 2014 – the same year Lodge quit Melbourne and made his first grade debut at the Wests Tigers.

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Matt Lodge will come up against new role model Russell Packer in Campbelltown

Packer was released from jail in January 2015, the same year in which Lodge embarked on the horrific New York rampage that led to his arrest and two-week stint in Rikers Island prison.

Now Packer is co-captain in the Tigers colours once worn by Lodge, who says the 28-year-old Kiwi international’s reformation is living proof the Broncos prop can also be rehabilitated.

“Russell is a good example to me that you can rebuild your life,” said Lodge, speaking for the first time since making his Broncos debut a fortnight ago.

“Packer did things the hard way but he has come out the other end and he is someone who people now look up to in the NRL.

“A lot of people now respect him. He has turned it all around and it’s good to see.”

Amid the fury and firestorm of criticism aimed at Lodge, it is easy to forget that, just three years ago, Packer was equally reviled.

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When he walked out of prison, Packer was initially denied a swift return to the NRL.

He served his penance for a year in park football. Whenever his name popped up, rugby league fans were outraged, calling for Packer to be banned for life from the NRL.

It’s a situation Lodge must find very familiar.

Tomorrow night, Packer runs out to face Lodge armed with a university degree. He hasn’t touched alcohol for five years and makes his own kombucha, a health drink to help his autistic son.

Packer’s journey is proof jailbirds can find salvation in the NRL. Lodge is determined to walk the same path.

“I hope people can give me a chance like they have with Russell,” he said.

“But I also know that it takes time. You can’t just make one apology and expect to be forgiven straight away.

Wests Tigers co-captain Russell Packer has his life on track after serving time behind bars

“You have to earn people’s forgiveness and I am prepared to do that.”

It was reported that the Wests Tigers sacked Lodge following his moment of madness in New York but the truth is the 118kg prop cost himself $900,000.

Lodge holds no bitterness towards the Tigers because they secretly agreed to release him to an NRL rival on a rich three-year deal ... 24 hours before he headed to America.

“I had agreed the day before to go to Penrith and then I went for my holiday to New York,” Lodge said.

“I actually signed the release form the day before I went to New York. I was going to go to Penrith for three years but it didn’t get lodged to the NRL, so really, I stitched myself up.

“I’ve got no hard feelings towards the Tigers.

“There’s actually not many blokes left there from my time there, there’s only a handful, so I’m treating this as just another game.”

Lodge is being hailed as a possible State of Origin star but the 22-year-old admits he is currently miles away from that level.

Lodge is hoping the NRL community gives him a similar opportunity to Packer

The evidence came in his Broncos debut in round one, when he threw the ill-fated intercept that sent Dragons rival Ben Hunt streaking away for the matchwinner.

“It wasn’t the best start to come back to. What can I do?,” he said.

“I just have to learn from it and keep moving forward. Although my first game didn’t go to plan, it (the intercept) happened and you can’t get down in the dumps.

“It’s going to take a bit of time to get used to the NRL. I’ve had three years out of the game and it’s a tough competition, it’s the best in the world. I am happy with my progress but there is lot of work to do and I have a long way to go.

“The NRL is definitely quicker. I feel comfortable but it’s a level up from the Intrust Super Cup and it might take a month or so to get up to speed. There are some pretty good athletes running around.

“I’m not getting too many sledges out on the field. Most players are pretty good. I give the odd sledge myself, so if I do that, I have to be prepared to cop some back.”