What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rumours and Stuff

Johnny88

Juniors
Messages
1,344

Dragons hand Matt Lodge an NRL lifeline at his sixth NRL club​


St George Illawarra have handed veteran prop Matt Lodge a 2025 lifeline with a train-and-trial contract to determine whether he joins the sixth NRL club of his career.
Lodge, 29, has been on a market bereft of front-rowers since rejecting a two-year extension at Manly late last year worth around $150,000 a season.

Numerous players have converted pre-season train and trial contracts - which pay a minimum $1200 a week - into NRL deals in recent years, most notably Lodge and his former Manly teammate Nathan Brown.

 

Wally21

Bench
Messages
4,431
Gotta say, and I might regret this horribly by round 10, but I haven’t been as excited for the start of the season in many years. I don’t think the boys will be playing themselves into top 4 or anything, but fresh coaches, new players and hopefully a completely different attitude and I’m f**king excited!
So glad about Moretti, never called it like @hindy111 but have thought he was criminally underrated. Love the fact he has a bit of merkin in him
 

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
77,759
Out-of-favour Roosters star Brandon Smith says he hasn’t spoken to Parramatta after rumours he would sign with the Eels caught fire.

Currently off contract and sidelined by an ACL injury, Smith has been told he won’t be offered an extension to his turbulent stint with the Tri-colours.

He hopes to have his future sorted by May but was caught unawares as online speculation – started by an Eels fan page – raged that he was a done deal at Parra.

“This Parramatta rumour went around for all of my family members, every one of my mates rang,” Smith told James Graham on The Bye Round Podcast.

“I have not spoken to them at all. I don’t even know if my manager has.”

The Storm premiership hooker says he hasn’t had any direct negotiations with potential new clubs.

“I haven’t had any negotiations but there’s definitely talks going. I would call them negotiations, but there’s definitely talks happening behind the scenes but not involving me,” Smith said.

“Probably May. Yeah, April, May, I’d like to have it properly sorted.

“We will see what happens, you never know who might come, you know. Tom Brady might want me at the NFL.”

The Roosters have effectively already moved on from Smith, signing NSW Origin hooker Reece Robson to a four-year deal from 2026.

Graham suggested that the Eels were a good new home for Smith; hence the speculation.

“It’s funny you can draw those links because it’s pretty easy,” Graham said.

“You go, he worked with (new coach Jason) Ryles, you could make a case that Parramatta need a number nine. It’s like, ‘Oh, that’s where he’ll go’.”

Smith didn’t rule out an Eels switch but said the existing speculation was unfounded.

“I think it was like a Parramatta fan page, like said, ‘It’s official’,” he said.

“The Parramatta fan army, now everything they say is reputable.”

 

JokerEel

Coach
Messages
13,667
Gotta say, and I might regret this horribly by round 10, but I haven’t been as excited for the start of the season in many years. I don’t think the boys will be playing themselves into top 4 or anything, but fresh coaches, new players and hopefully a completely different attitude and I’m f**king excited!
So glad about Moretti, never called it like @hindy111 but have thought he was criminally underrated. Love the fact he has a bit of merkin in him


Yep same upgraded my season tickets going to fan days ffs looking forward to to the 1/2 for SG Balls first game!

Its all very exciting..

Not sure about @hindy111 having Merkin in him
 

RustedonEel

Juniors
Messages
159
Out-of-favour Roosters star Brandon Smith says he hasn’t spoken to Parramatta after rumours he would sign with the Eels caught fire.


“I think it was like a Parramatta fan page, like said, ‘It’s official’,” he said.

The Parramatta fan army, now everything they say is reputable.”

He knows us too well.
 

The Predictor

Juniors
Messages
2,044
I can tell you what Pou will say. “3 years will mean he’s cheap.”
Anyway my thoughts on Moretti has always been he’s fine, probably play half season off bench but I think he’s unsettled on what style he wants to be. Does he want to be a Liam Martin style backrower or a Watmough style combo forward? Until he decides I don’t think he’ll be more than 16th-20th level player
Nope…he will be a stand out now that bushy has fkd off !!!!
 

The Predictor

Juniors
Messages
2,044
George may be spot on but I don't think anyone who plays sport doesn't want to win the competition they are competing in.

He sounds like he gets his information from Facebook
Don’t think Moses or Gutherson should be in the photo I would have swapped them out with Dylbro and changing lanes
 
Last edited:

The Predictor

Juniors
Messages
2,044
Gotta say, and I might regret this horribly by round 10, but I haven’t been as excited for the start of the season in many years. I don’t think the boys will be playing themselves into top 4 or anything, but fresh coaches, new players and hopefully a completely different attitude and I’m f**king excited!
So glad about Moretti, never called it like @hindy111 but have thought he was criminally underrated. Love the fact he has a bit of merkin in him
He has a tonne of potential that Brad could not tap into
 
Top