Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold says new recruit Matt Lodge is a completely completely different individual to the person who was arrested in New York eight years in the past after he pressured his means into an residence and assaulted somebody throughout his drunken rampage.
Lodge, 28, has matured since then on and off the sphere however has jumped from the Broncos to the Warriors after which to the Roosters lately, with the Sea Eagles signing him this week on a practice and trial deal.
The prop ahead will play NSW Cup this weekend with no ensures that he can be signed on a long-term deal, however Seibold is assured that his arrival will pressure Manly’s different forwards to carry given there’s now a real battle for spots.
Seibold has labored with Lodge at two different golf equipment and says the northern seashores native has moved on from the New York incident that resulted in him paying the victims an undisclosed quantity.
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“It was almost eight years ago,” he mentioned.
“Everybody in life has made mistakes and had challenges. It was a big mistake and he’s spoken a number of times about it, so I’m not sure he needs to keep apologising about it.
“I know he’s made a number of changes to his lifestyle.
“He’s got a lovely partner and three little ones, so he’s a father and he’s just recently completed a degree at university, so he’s done a lot of things off the field that have given him a lot of growth as a person.
“He’s had his challenges throughout his career, but he brings a competition for spots, and I don’t shy away from that. We shouldn’t have people who are comfortable thinking ‘that’s my jersey every single week’. We want competition for spots.”
The Sea Eagles additionally re-signed hulking prop Taniela Paseka on Thursday to beef up their center, which has been a problem for a number of years.
Veteran Jake Trbojevic has been the glue that’s held it collectively, and Lodge can present the grunt up entrance that they’ve lacked when Paseka has been off the sphere.
“I don’t think he’s achieved his potential in the game, but I think you saw glimpses of it last year for the Roosters,” Seibold mentioned.
“He’s got the quickest play the ball in the competition and he breaks more tackles than any front-rower in the competition on average per game, so there are some things to like about his game.
“He has had a challenging time, but some of that’s not through his own fault. Some of that has been down to salary cap and roster management and so on.
“I’ll let Matt speak for himself about the last club he was at, but I’ve known him since he was 17 and I trust him and I know he trusts me. He’s not in our top 30, but he’s got an opportunity here.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au