The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip
WAYNE Bennett insists there is a Red Hill future for an out-of-favour star and the Matt Lodge saga takes another twist. Get all the latest NRL news and gossip in The Inside Mail.
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BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett insists Tom Opacic will not be granted a release despite Sydney NRL rivals circling the out-of-favour three-quarter.
The 100kg Opacic impressed in his rookie season last year but has been unable to break into the NRL this season after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery.
That opened the door for Cowboys import Tautau Moga, who has been a revelation for the Broncos this season at left centre.
Sydney clubs are keen to secure Opacic but with Moga going to the Knights next season, Bennett insists there is a future at Red Hill for the Queensland Residents representative.
LODGE MAY STAY NOW
THE Matt Lodge saga has taken another twist which could see the controversial forward delay plans to quit rugby league.
The former Wests Tigers prop’s career took a massive hit after he was arrested in New York in 2015.
Lodge, 22, has been playing for Redcliffe in the Intrust Super Cup this season and the Broncos were hoping to sign him for next year.
But Lodge revealed in The Sunday Mail this month he was going to quit rugby league and was facing bankruptcy.
Just days after baring all in the revealing interview, Lodge met with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and COO Nick Weeks – the two most powerful figures in the game.
The meeting took place in Brisbane on the day of the State of Origin decider.
Lodge, who has been sidelined with an elbow injury, was not given any guarantees but the meeting made him think twice about his future.
The Broncos are holding out hope that Lodge decides to keep playing and the NRL clears him to return next season.
BENJI LOOKS OVERSEAS
THE NRL’s bargain buy of the season, Benji Marshall, could finish his glittering career overseas.
The Broncos recruit has options to play in the English Super League in the wake of his surprise renaissance at Red Hill.
Marshall’s manager is abroad and will explore all options after several UK clubs expressed interest in Marshall last year as he weighed up a move to the Broncos.
The 32-year-old is keen to play on and with Brisbane unable to increase their $100,000 offer for next season, Marshall may look offshore for more lucrative deals.
BRONCOS TARGET KAHU
THE Broncos are confident they will not lose Jordan Kahu despite outlaying millions to secure eight NRL top-liners.
Kahu is being chased by the Warriors and has family links in New Zealand, but Brisbane believe they will secure his signature in the coming weeks.
Kahu is expected to be the final signing in Brisbane’s incredible retention drive, which will see them retain 10 full-time squad members this season.
TONGAN CONNECTION
TEVITA Pangai Jr has revealed the role Joe Ofahengaue played in getting him to the Broncos last year.
Ofahengaue signed a new two-year contract with the club last week and Pangai was delighted to know his fellow young forward would be staying with the club.
Pangai Jr and Ofahengaue, who are both eligible for Tonga at this year’s World Cup, met in 2014 when they represented the Junior Kangaroos.
Pangai Jr said when he was considering making the move from Canberra, he rung Ofahengaue who convinced him how good the Broncos were.
THORN IN CHARITY SIDE
FOOTY legend Brad Thorn is making a return to rugby league.
Thorn, who played league for Australia and rugby for the All Blacks, will pull on the boots as part of a fundraiser for Senior Constable Brett Forte, who was tragically killed on duty in May.
Thorn (pictured right) will make a cameo appearance for the Queensland Police Service All Stars against the QPS Dream Team.
Former Broncos forward Dane Carlaw will also appear in the All Stars while Scott Prince and Petero Civoniceva have signed up for the Dream Team.
The rest of the players will be police officers from across the state who are part of the QPS Rugby League Association.
Entry is free for the 5pm kick-off on August 12 at Carina Juniors, with gates to open at 1.30pm.
All proceeds will go to the Forte family.
BILLY’S BRAND GROWS
BILLY Slater Inc. continues to grow.
The Storm champion isn’t yet finished on the field but off it he is building a business empire.
Slater, a client of SFX Sports, launched a business last year called Billy’s Buddies, a program that teaches young children the basics of rugby league in a safe non-contact environment.
From this month, Billy’s Buddies franchises will be officially available for purchase as Slater looks to take rugby league to the young masses.
Billy’s Buddies is now played by more than 1500 kids every week across southeast Queensland.
FEMININE TOUCH
THE Cowboys added a nice touch to their Women in League celebrations at the weekend, getting the players’ wives, mothers or daughters to introduce them in the pre-game videos.
However, while the likes of Coen Hess’ mum and Gavin Cooper’s wife did the honours for them, the club had to call on a special guest for recruit Te Maire Martin.
With no family in Townsville yet, the young playmaker was introduced by the club’s football administration manager, Anita Creenaune.
It was a guest appearance that few would have picked up on, but it was good to not let Martin miss out.
COACH IN THE BAG
WHICH players from a battling NRL club were openly bagging their coach to their rivals after a recent game against a Queensland team?
All is not well at the club which has had a bad year on the field but even the Queensland-based players were surprised to hear how they were speaking.
The bad news for the aggrieved players is the coach won’t be going anywhere.
Originally published as The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip
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