Matt Lodge turned down more money from Parramatta to re-sign with Brisbane
As Broncoes firebrand Matt Lodge promises an explosive start to Sunday’s semi-final clash with Parramatta find out why the Brisbane enforcer knocked back a richer deal with the blue and golds.
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Matt Lodge has revealed he rejected a more lucrative offer from Parramatta to stay loyal to the Broncos as Brisbane’s chief enforcer warned of front-row fireworks in their sudden-death clash with the Eels.
Parramatta’s 123kg monster Junior Paulo and the 118kg Lodge will go toe-to-toe in a 241kg engine-room, elimination final collision at the Eels’ $360 million fortress, Bankwest Stadium, this Sunday.
Lodge and Paulo could easily have been front-row teammates in 2020 after Parramatta attempted to bring the Blacktown junior back to Sydney’s west with a rich contract offer in excess of $700,000 a season.
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But Lodge took less to stay at Red Hill in pursuit of a premiership, signing a three-year deal until the 2022 eight weeks ago, and is now gunning for Paulo to send Parramatta crashing out of the title race.
“To be honest, we’ve been pretty s*** in Sydney - everyone knows that,” Lodge said.
“They (Parramatta) will start fast, but I am backing our guys to start fast as well and there are going to be some fireworks at the start of the game.
“I know we’re seen as underdogs but that’s not our mindset.
“People say we can get bullied through the middle but good luck trying bully guys like Dave (Fifita) and Payne (Haas).
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“I can’t wait for Sunday, hopefully there’s some big contact and our forward pack go head-to-head with theirs and there’s some shots people come out to watch.
“The more games we win, the more people shut up so that’s the only way to do it.”
Lodge’s loyalty to the Broncos cannot be questioned. For the second consecutive season, the reformed bad boy has spurned big-money offers to repay Brisbane’s faith for their NRL lifeline following his off-field dramas in 2015.
Last year, Lodge knocked back a massive contract from Newcastle worth almost $1 million a season and despite his family ties near Parramatta, the 24-year-old resisted the Eels’ overtures.
“I did think about going back,” Lodge said.
“Parramatta put a good deal forward and it was 10 minutes from my house (in which he grew up) and the local area.
“But I was happy to make the sacrifice and live up here in Brisbane to be around guys like Payne Haas and David Fifita and around the coach (Anthony Seibold) as well.
“I am happy with the choice I made and hopefully I can turn some western sydney kids into Broncos supporters.”
Lodge outpointed Paulo two weeks ago in Brisbane’s 17-16 win at Suncorp, amassing 136 metres compared to the Eels prop’s 120m, and is relishing another brutal midfield showdown.
“This is a good test for myself and our pack, we have to come out and be aggressive and put the foot down,” he said.
“We play better at home so you have to take confidence out of beating them two weeks ago.
“We’re not going down to Parra thinking we are underdogs, we just have to do our best and I’m confident we can get the job done.”
Originally published as Matt Lodge turned down more money from Parramatta to re-sign with Brisbane