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NRL greats brush off Lodge captaincy push

The 24-year-old could risk unearthing a troubled past.

Published by
Jesse Robertson

A raft of NRL greats have taken a swipe at suggestion that Matt Lodge could be recommended as the next Brisbane Broncos captain as the club seeks a total overhaul of its leadership group.

Coach Anthony Seibold is said to be seeking an entirely new direction with club leaders after suffering the astonishing 58-0 elimination final humbling at the hands of Parramatta, ending their campaign on a sour note of historic proportions.

But there has already been significant backlash to the reported suggestion that Seibold will put Lodge's name to the board to appoint as their next skipper, given the trouble brought up by his 2015 assault rampage inside an apartment in New York City, resulting in his sacking from the Wests Tigers.

Firstly, Cronulla great Paul Gallen appearing on 100% Footy  Monday night decried the report.

"You couldn't see him captain any side, to be fair," Gallen said.

"I can't see it being good for him. It just brings up everything he did."

Storm legend Billy Slater soon added, "I don't think it will be healthy for him to be named captain because it unearths all the things that he has done.

"It brings up all that bad publicity about him."

Later, former NSW coach Phil Gould joined in the chorus of complainants as he too expressed his concern over Lodge's potential promotion.

"No, I don't think he needs that and I don't think the Broncos need it," he said.

Lodge originally faced a 12-month jail term in the US in 2016 before avoiding the sanction with a plea deal, compensating the man and woman he terrorised with a financial sum.

 

Published by
Jesse Robertson