Sport Confidential: Lodge reveals dehydration scare, Eels go cold on Jack Bird

Warriors enforcer Matt Lodge thought he was healthy enough to play a game, instead he ended up needing paramedics in the sheds.

Warriors prop Matt Lodge has revealed that he was placed on a drip in the dressing sheds after he was hit with a bug in the lead-up to his side’s loss to the Gold Coast last Sunday.

Cameras caught Lodge throwing up on the sidelines when he was replaced after 20 minutes at CBus Super Stadium. Confidential can reveal ambulance officers were called as a dehydrated Lodge struggled to keep down water.

“I picked up a virus or a bug on the morning of the game,” Lodge said.

“It started hitting me on the bus there. I was too far in at that point. I thought I could get through it but it hit me pretty hard after that 20-minute stint.

“It was pretty hot out there so I was dehydrated — I couldn’t keep anything down.”

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Lodge reckons he threw up half a dozen times before the game and then another 15 or so times after the game.

“They had to call the ambulance and they came in and put me on a drip,” he said.

“I can’t even remember the game. I was aching. I was shaking and had a real high temperature. I couldn’t have gone back out.

“In hindsight I probably should have pulled out but I thought I could knock out two 20-minute stints and get through it.”

The good news is that Lodge has come good now and will start against the Wests Tigers on Friday night at Campbelltown Stadium.

The Warriors missed him in the loss to the Titans. Had he been able to return to the field for a second stint, it could have made the difference.

Matt Lodge was put on a drip in the dressing sheds last weekend. Picture: NRL Photos

EELS PULLS BIRD CONTRACT OFFER IN SURPRISE TWIST

Parramatta have withdrawn their interest in securing Jack Bird, leaving St George Illawarra in the box-seat to retain the 27-year-old.

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur met Bird last month and the club discussed the potential of offering him a two-year contract to join the club next season to help fill the void left by the impending departures of Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papali’i and potentially Ryan Matterson.

But Parramatta have opted against pursing the ex-NSW star, which leaves the Dragons confident they can retain Bird after offering him a revised $1.1 million deal.

Parramatta have pulled their offer for Jack Bird. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The Dragons and the Dolphins remain in the hunt for his services but Bird has spoken openly about his reluctance to again relocate to Queensland.

Bird met with his manager on Monday and the pair are expected to speak again provided Bird comes through the Thursday night’s clash against his former club Cronulla unscathed.

A decision could be reached by the end of the weekend, with Dragons officials confident they will keep their local product.

The Dragons have selected Bird as a starting second-rower ahead of Melbourne-bound Tariq Sims and the club’s medical staff have helped Bird return to full fitness after an extended stint on the sidelines.

There were suggestions Bird wanted to return to the Sharks but Cronulla are not in a position to offer him a deal.

The Eels will now consider making a play for Cronulla’s Briton Nikora, who the Dragons have also spoken about as a potential Bird replacement.

Meanwhile, the Eels were bemused by suggestions they had landed outside back Jamayne Isaako earlier this week.

Social media went into a frenzy when the Broncos announced Isaako’s immediate release but the Eels were as confused as many when they were linked with the Kiwi international, who eventually signed with the Titans.

They pursued Isaako to beef up their depleted backline stocks but he made it clear to the Eels that he did not want to relocate to Sydney when they last spoke weeks ago on a short-term deal before he joins the Dolphins next season.

ROOSTERS’ HEAVYWEIGHTS SALUTE SBW

Trent Robinson and Nick Politis interrupted their preparation for the biggest game of the season to date to watch Sonny Bill Williams’ big fight against Barry Hall on Wednesday night.

Confidential’s spies caught Williams catching up with Robinson and Politis after the former Roosters star had knocked Hall into next week.

Asked whether he was inspired by SBW’s performance, Robinson said he was just there to support a mate.

“It was awesome,” Robinson said. “The man is a special man. To go and watch Sonny fight and prepare and do what he does, there is not many people like him.”

Sonny Bill Williams caught up with Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Nick Politis ringside on Wednesday night.

NRL’S SECOND-TIER MOVE

The NRL has escalated its feud with the NSWRL as the game’s governing body considers launching a national reserve grade competition which would take further power — and money — away from the state leagues.

Club bosses were briefed of the proposal on Wednesday during a phone hook up, with the NRL now exploring the potential of running and funding a national second-tier competition.

As it stands the NSW and Queensland rugby leagues respectively run state-based over-aged competitions which act as a feeder competition to NRL clubs.

Funding from head office to the Queensland and NSW Rugby Leagues includes money to help run the respective state competitions.

Under the plan being explored by the NRL, that money would likely be directed towards the clubs themselves. This development comes as the NRL launches an investigation into the NSWRL regarding the handling of its recent board elections.

Club chairmen met last week and were unanimous in their desire to get to the bottom of the events.

Boo Bailey’s take on the week in rugby league.

DIB CALLS OUT KAMBOSOS JR

Billy Dib has laid down the challenge to Australian champion George Kambosos Jr as Dib continues to deal with the fall-out from one of the most contentious fights in recent Australian history.

Dib also claimed he was racially abused when he walked to ring ahead of his fight against Jacob Ng last Saturday.

He won the IBF international lightweight title and the WBO oriental title via a disqualification. The fight ended when Ng flipped Dib over his back and onto the canvas early in the sixth round.

The injury left Dib with a dislodged ribcage and three fractures. He was unable to fly back from the Gold Coast until Friday and spent the week with his arm in a sling.

“When I was walking to the ring this lady looks at me and calls me ‘you dirty wog’,” Dib said. “If I did what Ng did to me I would’ve been hung out to dry.

“It was malicious. He knew exactly what he was doing. I wanted to smash his head in. Why cheat? It wasn’t a UFC fight. When I fell I was in such so much pain I thought I was having a heart attack. I was grabbing the ref begging for him to help me.

Billy Dib is on the mend after his wild fight against Jacob Ng.

“The way he and his people have carried on – they have shown no respect. He was starting to get desperate, he knew he couldn’t hurt me.

“He was getting tired. The fight was going exactly to my plan.”

The two-time world champion will again be world rated. He has no interest in granting Ng a rematch but has called out Kambosos. Kambosos is fighting a blockbuster bout in Australia Devin Haney on June 5 but Dib wants a crack next.

The pair almost came to blows backstage during a fight night in 2016.

“George is saying he wants a stadium fight,” Dib said. “You aren’t going to get a better crowd than an Australian versus an Australian. I’m not interested to fight any up and comers. I want big names. Jacob Ng does not get a rematch.”

COOK UP FOR NO.9 FIGHT

Damien Cook isn’t ready to give up his Australian jersey without a fight.

Cook, the incumbent Kangaroos hooker, was eclipsed by Melbourne and Queensland rake Harry Grant last week as the Rabbitohs succumbed to the Storm, prompting some to suggest his younger opponent had taken the early lead in the race to wear the Australian jersey at the World Cup later in the year.

Cook was the Australian hooker the last time the Kangaroos played a Test match — remarkably nearly three years ago — and he covets the jersey as much as he ever has.

As much as he admires Grant and the qualities that are set to make the Melbourne rake one of the game’s next million-dollar men, Cook won’t lie down when it comes to retaining his green and gold jersey.

“Long year ahead,” Cook said.

“We gave him some nice space (last week) — he got some joy there. He is a classy player — I have always been a fan of him.

Harry Grant is pushing hard to claim the Kangaroos’ No.9 jumper. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“When I watch footy my eye generally goes straight to what the hookers are doing and seeing what they are doing so I can learn from them.

“Harry is a classy player. All the hype from him being a young age, he is doing what everyone expected of him.

“There are definitely some similarities (between us) for sure. Everyone is a little bit different in their own way as well. That’s why I like to watch (other hookers).

“You can take things off them.”

Cook said his desire to play representative football remains as strong as ever.

“I have played Origin, lucky enough to wear the green and gold a couple of years ago,” Cook said. “We haven’t been able to play since. Winning a grand final - you want to do that every year. Origin is always on that list as well, so is representing your country.

“They are always on my goals to tick off every year.”

IN THE KNOW

With Buddy Franklin narrowing in on his 1000th career goal, there are a few security staff who will know exactly what to do if he kicks his milestone at the SCG.

Ben Arellano and Anthony Angelis were on duty at the SCG when Swans legend, Tony Lockett kicked his 1000th career goal in 1995 and his 1300th goal four years later. Venue security were on notice to protect players and coaches from the anticipated on-field crowd celebrations following the kick.

Arellano was in charge of escorting Sydney Swans coach, Rodney Eade and Angelis was part of a core group who were tasked with surrounding Tony Lockett to safety.

“We were told to keep Tony Lockett safe which I found quite funny because the guy was a man-mountain,” Angelis said.

STORM KEEN TO KEEP OLAM

The Melbourne Storm are working overtime to secure their future and it is understood their spending spree has been extended to centre Justin Olam.

The Storm have a club option on Olam for next season. Olam has become one of the game’s elite centres. Olam insisted he was loving life in Melbourne.

“I haven’t signed anything yet,” he said. “So we’ll see how it goes. I have good friends (at the Storm). It’s been a good place and I love it.“

Olam said he had given little thought to how coach Craig Bellamy’s future would impact on his decision — Bellamy has until the end of the month to notify the Storm whether he will continue as head coach next season.

“When we are here, we are here and that is my focus,” he said.

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Lodge reveals dehydration scare, Eels go cold on Jack Bird