Cameron Smith says Matt Lodge can be the x-factor in Brisbane’s NRL premiership charge

MATT Lodge’s NRL return has upset many — but Cameron Smith believes the 22-year-old prop could be the spark that light’s Brisbane’s NRL premiership charge.

Matt Lodge remains a controversial figure. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

CAMERON Smith believes Matt Lodge is Brisbane’s premiership X-factor as Broncos assistant coach Kevin Walters warned the controversial prop not to let off-field dramas derail his season.

Lodge spent 18 months as a teenager training alongside Smith at Melbourne and now the champion rake says the Broncos hulk could torpedo the Storm’s quest for back-to-back titles.

The 116kg bookend will put aside months of savage criticism about his registration by the NRL when he makes his Broncos debut in Friday’s season-opener against the Dragons at Kogarah.

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Matt Lodge remains a controversial figure. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The 22-year-old is rated a future Origin and Test player and Smith admits Lodge has the size and skill to give Brisbane the front-row presence to help snap their 12-year title drought.

Asked if Lodge can be their premiership X-factor, Smith said: “I think he can be. The Broncos players I’ve spoken to have big wraps on him.

“He trains hard and he works hard. He’s a fantastic player. He’s got great skill for a big man.

“He was only a baby at Melbourne when he was with us.

“We are yet to see him pull on that jersey for the Broncos but there’s no doubt he’s a quality player. I’m not sure about Origin just yet ... it’s a big step up from club football to Origin player.”

Lodge at a Melbourne Storm army camp in 2013. (Colleen Petch)

Lodge was subjected to incessant abuse from rivals last year during his stint with Broncos feeder club Redcliffe in the Intrust Super Cup.

Despite taunts about his off-field indiscretion in New York in October 2015, the ball-playing prop was superb for the Dolphins, finishing runner-up in the league’s player-of-the-year award.

That is a compelling sign of his mental toughness and Walters, who has been working with Lodge over summer as a Broncos assistant, urged him not to allow the criticism to erode his game.

Kevin Walters has been keeping an close eye on Lodge. (Annette Dew)

“Playing in the NRL at the top level is very consuming, so it’s important that Matt keeps his focus,” said Walters, also Queensland’s Origin coach.

“I’m one of those people who is prepared to give people an opportunity in life.

“We’ve all made mistakes, I’ve made mistakes, so we have to judge Matt on what he does from here on in.

“No one condones what he did in the past but I just hope he can move forward and get his life back in order. He’s just had a baby, so that is a big challenge for him juggling that with playing good football for the Broncos.”

Broncos skipper Darius Boyd says Lodge will give Brisbane’s pack an extra dimension with his toughness and creativity in the middle of the park.

“I’m excited to play with him,” he said. “In opposed stuff at training last year he was hard to roll on the ground and get on his back.

“He’s a big lad that can pass the ball and we haven’t had that for a few years, a big guy like that. He has the ability to do some really good things for our side.

“I definitely believe, without putting too much pressure on him, he’s got the attributes and capabilities to play Origin.”

Originally published as Cameron Smith says Matt Lodge can be the x-factor in Brisbane’s NRL premiership charge