North Queensland Cowboys enforcer Matt Lodge has upped the ante in his ongoing feud with Nelson Asofa-Solomona, describing the Australian crossover star’s latest heavyweight bout as “nasty”.
The declaration comes as promoters No Limit have also confirmed their intentions to bring Paul Gallen out of retirement for a showdown with the man now gunning for the NSW Origin great’s longtime tag as crossover king.
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Only weeks after Lodge initially ignited a war of words with Asofa-Solomona via Fox Sports Australia, the Cowboys prop has now delivered a second social media serve against the 130kg puncher.
As part of hyping Asofa-Solomona’s latest fight – an Easter Sunday rematch with Jarrod Wallace – No Limit have released a proposed 2026 hit list for the former Melbourne Stormer.
Starting with the impending Wallace bout, the list also includes South Sydney Old Boy George Burgess, Lodge and finally Gallen – whose own crossover career includes fights against the likes of Justis Huni, Lucas Browne, Sonny Bill Williams, even UFC great Mark Hunt.
Yet no sooner had No Limit posted the list to Instagram when Lodge fired back.
“Imagine quitting your professional rugby league career to concentrate on being a full-time professional heavyweight boxer,” Lodge said.
“Then announcing your fighting Jeremy Latimore and Jarrod Wallace x 2 …..
“That’s Nasty.”
Elsewhere, Burgess also commented on the post – writing “LETS AV IT!!” – while Manly Sea Eagles’ forward Sio Siua Taukeiaho also found himself inadvertently thrown into the mix, after being tagged by former teammate Michael Chee-Kam.
“What about @s.taukeiaho,” Chee-Kam jokingly suggested.
“They don’t want it,” the big fella responded.
Cheekham then added: “Uce, can I do the walkout with you?”.
Prior to the Cowboys NRL season opener in Las Vegas, Fox Sports Australia asked Lodge about the potential of him fighting Asofa-Solomona sometime at the end of this year, after his footy commitments are done.
“He already knows where he can get it,” Lodge said of the fighter dubbed Big Nasty.
“For the rest of the year, we’ve got to focus on footy.
“But he knows where he can get the fight and so does George [Rose].
“But right now, my full focus is this weekend.
“Unlike Nelson, I’m not gonna quit footy to get in the ring.
“But good luck to him. I hope [the boxing switch] fulfils what he wants to do.
“And if he wants to get it on, we can get it on.”
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Within hours of the story going live on foxsports.com.au, Asofa-Solomona returned fire on Instagram, hinting that it was Lodge who would no longer be in the NRL if he had stayed.
When quitting his $800,00-a-year contract to take up boxing this year, it was confirmed the Storm premiership winner had been fielding lucrative offers from the Parramatta Eels, Warriors and rugby’s mooted R360 competition.
However, NAS revealed the Cowboys were also interested in his services – and for the exact spot that was eventually offered up as something of a lifeline to former Manly Sea Eagle, Lodge.
“Funny that,” NAS wrote beneath an excerpt from the story of Lodge taking aim, “you wouldn’t have a job if I took the contract you’re currently on right now. Thank me later @matt_lodge”.
After needing less than a round to finish Jeremy Latimore in his professional heavyweight debut, Asofa-Solomona will now look to double down against former Queensland Origin forward Wallace.
The fight is a rematch of a 2023 exhibition bout, which Big Nasty won via TKO win in the third round.
Back in January, No Limit boss George Rose spoke of a heavyweight showdown between his new client and Gallen, who he has also previously promoted, declaring: “I don’t think it’s something Gal could handle”.
When asked about the possibility of coaxing Gallen, at 44, out of retirement after fighting, and beating, Sonny Bill Williams last July, Rose conceded it was unlikely the Cronulla premiership hero would bite.
“And look, we’ve enjoyed some great years with Gal,” Rose said. “And I can tell you that as an athlete, Paul Gallen fears absolutely no one.
“But in a boxing ring these days, I just don’t think he could keep up with Nelson.
“I think Nelson is too big, too fit.
“I just don’t think it’s something Gal could handle.”
However, No Limit have now announced their intentions to bring Gallen back to the ring one more time for a showdown with Asofa-Solomona.
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