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Walters confirms Lodge to stay at Broncos

3 minute read

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has dismissed any suggestion prop Matt Lodge will be leaving the NRL club, but he's still chasing some new faces at the Broncos.

Coach KEVIN WALTERS.
Coach KEVIN WALTERS. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Prop Matt Lodge is staying at Brisbane for the 2021 NRL season, but new Broncos coach Kevin Walters is still eager to add to his roster.

Lodge had been linked with a move away from Red Hill after an underwhelming 2020 season disrupted by injury.

On Thursday Walters, however, announced the 25-year-old was part of his plans next year as he tries to lift the once-proud Broncos from the competition's basement.

"Lodgey's here. We're welcoming him back on Monday," Walters said.

"Matt unfortunately didn't participate too much in this year's NRL games and we're looking to get more out of him next year.

"He's obviously a very talented player and it's up to us and all the coaching staff to bring that talent through this pre-season so when we line up for round one that Matt's ready to go and he can be the player that we know he can be."

Walters has already begun revamping the Broncos roster with Joe Ofahengaue and Jack Bird moving to Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra respectively.

Bullocking forward David Fifita was already bound for Gold Coast before Walters arrived while veteran Darius Boyd has retired.

While Lodge will be staying put, Walters confirmed he is actively seeking to recruit experienced forward John Asiata with Melbourne's Brandon Smith also being courted.

"We're interested in anyone with his quality," Walters said of Smith.

"He's obviously been a great player at the Storm and a very young player as well.

"There'll be some interest from us ... he'd fit nicely in a Broncos jumper I would've thought."

It's another Smith - veteran hooker Cameron - whose future Walter believes is having an impact on the recruitment market across the league.

While the former Australia and Queensland is tipped to retire, the 37-year-old has also been linked with playing on at several clubs including the Broncos.

"He'd be a big signing for any club," Walters said.

"There'll be a lot of movement in rosters. Will there be some movement in ours? Quite possibly. That can happen. Nothing is set in stone these days in the game."

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