Veteran prop Matt Lodge won’t be joining the St. George-Illawarra Dragons on a train and trial deal as initially reported.
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It was reported last week that Lodge had been offered a train and trial worth $1200 by the Dragons and that the prop would be at pre-season training this week.
However, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan refuted those reports, telling the Big Sports Breakfast radio show that the story “isn’t true”.
“I haven’t seen anything because the story’s not true,” Flanagan said.
“He hasn’t signed a train-and-trial contract and he’s highly unlikely to. We’ve spoken to Matt and that’s one of these things that has gone off a little bit early.
“We’ll just move on and I’m looking for another middle … he was suggested as one.
“We’ve got 10 middles but three of them are really young.
“I’m really comfortable with the players that we’ve got this year and our squad depth but we’ll still be in the market for a front-rower.”
The SMH’s Michael Chammas clarified on Sunday night that the train and trial deal “fell over” with Lodge wanting a top 30 contract instead.
It’s the second time in three months Lodge has rejected an offer from an NRL team.
In November, Lodge decided not to re-sign with Manly as he believed it was a low ball offer.
Lodge will more than likely link up with an NRL team at some stage this season given the shortage of quality depth at the front row position.
At this stage, the Dragons will roll into Round 1 of the 2025 season with Francis Molo, Jack de Belin and Hame Sele as their first choice prop forwards.
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