“Controversial” prop inks Roosters deal six weeks after “walking out” on Warriors

The Sydney Roosters have reportedly made another signing with former Warriors prop Matt Lodge set to join the club for the remainder of the season.

With Lodge’s Warriors departure coming controversially after the prop fell out with club powerbrokers, SEN’s Michelle Bishop was surprised to see the forward find a new home considering his chequered past.

“Clearly Trent Robinson hasn’t called Cameron George for a reference,” Bishop said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Rugby league is a merry-go-round, he is the most controversial prop in the game, he walked out of the Warriors six weeks ago after a blow-up with the owner.

“Whichever way you want to look at it, I do know for a fact that it wasn’t just that one issue and he moved on.

“He’d been blowing up at training, he left the club about three or four times as he was negotiating his next contract, his manager wasn’t talking to the Warriors, it was just a messy, messy situation.”

With the NRL reportedly putting a salary cap value of $20,000 per game on Lodge’s head, Bishop pondered whether the Roosters will only be able to utilise the prop in five games given that his deal is said to be valued at $100,000.

“For him to go to the Roosters, they say for the remainder of the season on $100,000, the NRL valued him not so long ago at $20,000 a game, does that mean he’s only able to play five games for the Roosters?,” Bishop asked.

“It’s very unfair if that’s the case as clubs like the Parramatta Eels wanted to lure him to Kellyville for whatever reason.

“With the NRL putting him at that kind of money, I don’t see how the contract he signed was for $100,000.”

Lodge’s first appearance for the Roosters could come as early as Friday night against the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium.

Lodge can be signed for any other club for 2023 and beyond.