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https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/b1c7b895bde342f0df2223d03000e6c9
US victims awaiting compensation as Matt Lodge resumes NRL career with Brisbane Broncos
- February 16, 2018 11:32am
- by Staff Writers
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Matt Lodge will play his first game in NRL colours in almost three years in Saturday night’s trial for the Broncos in Toowoomba. Photo: Annette DewSource: News Corp Australia
MATT Lodge is looking to the future with his debut for the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday night but the man responsible with extracting compensation for the victims of Lodge’s 2015 New York rampage says the young forward can’t escape his past.
Almost three years since his last game in the NRL for the Wests Tigers in 2015, Lodge will take a significant step towards selection in round one when the Broncos take on the Titans at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium on Saturday night.
A former Junior Kangaroos representative, Lodge’s ability on the football field has never been in question but a series of off-field indiscretions culminated in a drunken rampage while in New York in December 2015. He narrowly avoided jail time.
He was ordered to pay $1.6 million in damages to the four victims he terrorised that night but has yet to pay a cent and senior associate at law firm Wigdor LLP, Renan Varghese, has told Fairfax Media that justice is yet to be served.
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“Our clients haven’t been paid,” said Varghese. “We are in the process of looking into avenues to collect against him for his conduct.
“Our clients aren’t vindictive people. They’re not looking to leave Mr Lodge unable to work.
“But it’s been clear by his actions in this case that he thinks he’s above the law and above taking any responsibility for his actions and we can’t abide by that.
“They’re not happy about the fact that someone could behave the way that he did and treat innocent individuals in the way that he did and can essentially resume his life as if nothing had happened.
“They don’t think it’s appropriate and they’re disappointed in his behaviour even since the incident.
“We would hope that Mr Lodge can’t escape his judgment just by fleeing back to Australia.”
In order to seal a return to the NRL Lodge has had to convince the league that he is a fit and proper person to take part in their competition. Broncos CEO Paul White told Fairfax Media that Lodge has taken major steps in his rehabilitation.
Now the father of a young boy, Lodge was a standout for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Intrust Super Cup last season and White believes he deserves the chance to get his life back on track.
“He has been alcohol-free for more than two years, he is completing university study and he is doing regular work with young men on the dangers of alcohol and taking personal responsibility for their actions,” White said.
“Matt has also recently become a father, and is a far more mature and responsible person who has learnt from his mistakes and is sorry for what he did.
“The Broncos believe he is now on the right path and will continue to support him in every way going forward.”
Broncos veteran Sam Thaiday will lead the side against the Titans in Toowoomba and has no doubt what the addition of Lodge means to the team.
“It means a bit of size and a bit of aggression out on the field,” Thaiday said.
“He’s a fantastic ballplayer as well. He’s going to give us a little bit more creativity in the forward pack.
“He’s been in our system since last year and for a few reasons he didn’t get the chance to have a run last year.
“I’m sure that he’s going to be itching to get out there and play and really prove a lot of people wrong.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what ‘Lodgey’ can do this year.”
scumbag, the more detail the public get about what this bloke is doing or not doing with honouring the court decision, the more pressure on the broncos and their sponsors to punt this clown.
Apologies then.
