- Matt Lodge shocked after attending junior footy tournament
- Behaviour of parents left the NRL journeyman stunned
- Called for all parents to let kids enjoy grassroots sport
NRL bad boy Matt Lodge had condemned the ‘disgraceful’ sideline behaviour of some overzealous parents after one of his own kids recently took part in his first junior rugby league tournament.
Lodge, 30, took to Instagram to voice his opinion – and soon received support from the likes of Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds, Cronulla premiership hero Andrew Fifita and Manly Sea Eagles teammate Jazz Tevaga.
The footy journeyman was shocked to see some parents – including those acting as coaches – ‘abusing, yelling, swearing and criticising’ – at some players aged between five and eight.
Daily Mail Australia understands the tournament was on Sydney’s northern beaches over the long weekend.
‘It just shouldn’t happen… encourage them so they love the game,’ Lodge’s lengthy social media post began.
‘Nothing should be forced and mistakes are OK. I pulled up a coach and said mate, you can’t swear at seven-year-olds like that.
NRL bad boy Matt Lodge (pictured with his children) condemned the ‘disgraceful’ sideline behaviour of some overzealous parents after one of his kids recently took part in a junior rugby league tournament
Lodge, 30, took to Instagram to voice his opinion (pictured) – and did not hold back
The Sea Eagles front-rower (pictured with his son) urged parents to let their kids enjoy footy – and never swear at them
‘His response was: ‘they are kids from our team.’
‘Doesn’t that make it worse? Let your kids play with their friends and have fun.
‘Please be better….and if it happens to your kid, don’t tolerate it.’
Lodge – currently part of Manly’s extended NRL squad – is working in construction away from footy.
The father of four has played for a host of NRL clubs across his career, including the Tigers, Broncos, Warriors and Roosters.
Back in October of 2015, Lodge attracted international headlines when he was arrested at gunpoint by New York police following a rampage through a family’s apartment.
He also reportedly told the victims at the time: ‘This is the night that you die.’
The prop then spent two weeks in the city’s notorious Rikers Island prison and was ordered to pay a reported $1.2million to his victims in compensation.
Lodge was then offered a NRL lifeline in 2018 by the Broncos under Wayne Bennett – only to be cut by Kevin Walters when he was appointed head coach.
The father of four has played for a host of NRL clubs, including the Tigers, Broncos, Warriors Sea Eagles (pictured) and Roosters
Lodge faced 25 years in jail before a plea deal with prosecutors. Brisbane then handed the prop a way back into the NRL in 2018 after his arrest in New York three years earlier
Matt Lodge, pictured with his fiancé Jessica O’Sullivan, has turned his career and life around
The front-rower later stated he was prepared to play the remainder of his footy career at Red Hill – but felt the ‘Old Boys’ at the club wanted him moved on.
‘I guess they’re proud, and a lot never took to me being signed, let alone being asked to captain the club,’ Lodge told News Corp in a 2022 interview.
‘They were all Kevvie’s mates and I knew if he got the job I was gone, even if I was playing well. I knew it wasn’t footy related.
‘Kevvie got the job and he rang my agent within the first day to move me on and said he would pay whatever it takes.
‘It was a tough day leaving the Broncos, but I knew my time there was up.’
