Should we re-sign Lodge

[RoosterChick]

What everyone is forgetting is that Lodge is being paid by the Warriors for 2023. He’s included in their cap. He got the golden handshake to the value of over $700K.
Therefore wherever he is in 2023 the Warriors are contributing that amount. If we want to keep him, we won’t have to pay anywhere near his value for 2023. It’s worth the investment, especially with Jared probably calling it a day at the end of 2023. Lodge could take his spot in 2024 if we want to keep him.

[ism22]

considering what some props are paid we won't be able to go close to paying market value. he's doing alright with payouts from the broncos and warriors so here's hoping he's enjoying his time with us and wants to stay

What would you say his market value is? My thoughts are...

- Warriors paid him $700k a year as their alpha prop (JWH would be on about that?)

- We have JWH and Collins staying on and they're more accomplished players.

- Lodge WOULD have played for NSW if he'd behaved and been a more stable dude in his early 20's. He's playing like a rep-grade prop right now (arguably out-performing Collins in his absence). However Collins is an incumbent QLD prop. Lodge is yet to put together enough consistently good footy to earn such honours. Is he RCG, Haas, Jake Trbo, Paulo, de Belin kinda standard? Current form I'd have to say FARK YES! And hopefully it will show in our finals performances.

- Will he sign for ~$500k a year? I hope that Robbo's giving him a 'family' and 'mentorship' on top of this. The tax man starts to bite after you earn more than $200k... as a dude with a USD $1.6m personal loan (hopefully almost paid off by now) and a $2.5m house he's gonna have to do his numbers (fark he got a good deal on that IMO!!! Looks like a dream home... https://www.realestate.com.au/news/n...ches-revealed/). But yeah... I'm hoping that the numbers are such that after tax, $500k (plus the Roosters' Rolls Royce club culture / support / business connections...etc) v $700k cash in hand to be an alpha prop at some shyte club with no culture / success will be the obvious choice.

Call me whatever but I'm all for giving a person a second chance and growing them. Personal rant but I trusted my ex after she assaulted me because I WANTED her to be a good mum and lifelong friend post-marriage (something I knew she COULD be if she was willing to make some changes). This isn't about that but for Matt, I believe in a second chance and having our club to mentor him from where he is now to being a happy, successful member of society who lives the quiet life with his kids/missus on the northern beaches and quietly drives the kids to private school sports in his SUV on weekend.

Now does he wanna win that life post-footy... or does he wanna end up doing a LOD by taking on a shyte business, getting involved with the wrong crowd, going bust and falling out with his closest allies? To me all he's gotta do is listen to Politis + Bouris and he'll never be in financial strife post-footy.

I sincerely hope that Lodge has turned a corner and is now a quiet, northern beaches dad who's doing everything for his wife and kids rather than for whatever other reason. With JWH as his mentor (and relatively close neighbour, I think JWH is Mosman though?) I'd love to see him grow in that kinda mould and untap the potential we all know he's got. Like Fergo... IMO Robbo, JWH and Teddy can get him a premiership + a green and gold jersey if he wants them (I'm thinking long-term but it's literally not too late for him to be part of the world cup squad if he murders the finals series).

To me Lodge is capable of banking $$$ for his family and having a fark load of achievements to be proud of if he wants to (and he can do that - Robbo's confirmed that the 2022 version of Matt Lodge has that humility / stability). We're the only club that can do that for him and I hope that's where both of us are heading.

It'll be a LOT of work though! I love how Rads put it on the podcast the other day. He said something like 'I know the eastern suburbs is a hard working part of town because you can't stay here unless you work hard... you don't get the beaches and the glamour without working your butt off for them'. He then went and farking murdered the Cows, true to his word about how he wanted to play. That's how I want Lodge to be thinking about our club! He's shown he can and I don't give a fark about his past so long as he's also left it behind him.

[zac]

i'd say his form in the last couple of weeks would put him in the elite prop category and if we play deep into the finals he might find himself with a kangaroo jumper

[SouthWestChook]

As a few have said in here I think it's almost needed. We're so much better when him and Jared are on. With SST leaving next year, I think Lodge would be a fantastic frontrower. Jared is getting on too so I think offering Lodge a contract and then slowly blooding whoever we see as Jareds eventual replacement would work well.

[Inflictor]

He is a genuine dickhead. Tried to fight Craig Bellamy when he was at the Storm, the NewYork incident....other stuff that hasnt come to the surface....I Can't back the guy, and regardless of how quick his play the balls or strong his runs are, I just can't back him. I was the same with Fergo, couldnt wait to see the back of him.

He is on his best behavior now because he thinks he can win a premiership at the Roosters, plus he wants a meaty contract. Also likely on his best behaviour because he is possibly scared of JWH.

Harmony in a playing group is vital, incredibly underrated by many on here. I'd rather let Lodge go after we've had him for cheap. He will cause issues mid-term/long-term, that is guaranteed.

LOL
I think I'll trust Uncle Nick, Robbo and the leadership group on this one.

[Rooster_6]

I think it will ultimately come down to Lodge or Crichton.

Crichton has been much improved since Origin and Lodge has obviously been good since arriving.

Crichton fills a position of need as we dont have many second rowers but I dont think we are getting value at 6-700k per year.

Where as Lodge isnt really filling a position of need as we have plenty of props capable of playing first grade but at potentially 4-500k feels like we would be getting good value for money and allows us a little more freedom to go and top up Walker's contract.

[Team Evil]

I think it will ultimately come down to Lodge or Crichton.

Crichton has been much improved since Origin and Lodge has obviously been good since arriving.

Crichton fills a position of need as we dont have many second rowers but I dont think we are getting value at 6-700k per year.

Where as Lodge isnt really filling a position of need as we have plenty of props capable of playing first grade but at potentially 4-500k feels like we would be getting good value for money and allows us a little more freedom to go and top up Walker's contract.

I came on here to write the same thing, Really not sure which way to go but edging towards Lodge with the power starts.
We will have cap issues that only the club would be aware of so what ever they decide.

[mattyh]

What would you say his market value is? My thoughts are...

- Warriors paid him $700k a year as their alpha prop (JWH would be on about that?)

- We have JWH and Collins staying on and they're more accomplished players.

- Lodge WOULD have played for NSW if he'd behaved and been a more stable dude in his early 20's. He's playing like a rep-grade prop right now (arguably out-performing Collins in his absence). However Collins is an incumbent QLD prop. Lodge is yet to put together enough consistently good footy to earn such honours. Is he RCG, Haas, Jake Trbo, Paulo, de Belin kinda standard? Current form I'd have to say FARK YES! And hopefully it will show in our finals performances.

- Will he sign for ~$500k a year? I hope that Robbo's giving him a 'family' and 'mentorship' on top of this. The tax man starts to bite after you earn more than $200k... as a dude with a USD $1.6m personal loan (hopefully almost paid off by now) and a $2.5m house he's gonna have to do his numbers (fark he got a good deal on that IMO!!! Looks like a dream home... https://www.realestate.com.au/news/n...ches-revealed/). But yeah... I'm hoping that the numbers are such that after tax, $500k (plus the Roosters' Rolls Royce club culture / support / business connections...etc) v $700k cash in hand to be an alpha prop at some shyte club with no culture / success will be the obvious choice.

Call me whatever but I'm all for giving a person a second chance and growing them. Personal rant but I trusted my ex after she assaulted me because I WANTED her to be a good mum and lifelong friend post-marriage (something I knew she COULD be if she was willing to make some changes). This isn't about that but for Matt, I believe in a second chance and having our club to mentor him from where he is now to being a happy, successful member of society who lives the quiet life with his kids/missus on the northern beaches and quietly drives the kids to private school sports in his SUV on weekend.

Now does he wanna win that life post-footy... or does he wanna end up doing a LOD by taking on a shyte business, getting involved with the wrong crowd, going bust and falling out with his closest allies? To me all he's gotta do is listen to Politis + Bouris and he'll never be in financial strife post-footy.

I sincerely hope that Lodge has turned a corner and is now a quiet, northern beaches dad who's doing everything for his wife and kids rather than for whatever other reason. With JWH as his mentor (and relatively close neighbour, I think JWH is Mosman though?) I'd love to see him grow in that kinda mould and untap the potential we all know he's got. Like Fergo... IMO Robbo, JWH and Teddy can get him a premiership + a green and gold jersey if he wants them (I'm thinking long-term but it's literally not too late for him to be part of the world cup squad if he murders the finals series).

To me Lodge is capable of banking $$$ for his family and having a fark load of achievements to be proud of if he wants to (and he can do that - Robbo's confirmed that the 2022 version of Matt Lodge has that humility / stability). We're the only club that can do that for him and I hope that's where both of us are heading.

It'll be a LOT of work though! I love how Rads put it on the podcast the other day. He said something like 'I know the eastern suburbs is a hard working part of town because you can't stay here unless you work hard... you don't get the beaches and the glamour without working your butt off for them'. He then went and farking murdered the Cows, true to his word about how he wanted to play. That's how I want Lodge to be thinking about our club! He's shown he can and I don't give a fark about his past so long as he's also left it behind him.

ism , please , sincerely , can you shorten your posts? sometimes you have good things to say , but i only have 80 years to live and dont want to spend 3 years of thst reading your posts .

no offence intended, just the abbreviated version.

[theGman]

You think he will leave for QLD Gman?

Might come down to $ mate.
If the Dolphins have it and that's his motivation then playing up there with Sean would be appealing otherwise playing for premierships and in a professional set-up wins.

[roosterchook]

I’d keep him. I think he’s put the past behind him and wants to move on to better things and where else is he going to get that chance than at the roosters who in turn need him. So it’s a win/win situation.

[ARD]

I think it will ultimately come down to Lodge or Crichton.

Crichton has been much improved since Origin and Lodge has obviously been good since arriving.

Crichton fills a position of need as we dont have many second rowers but I dont think we are getting value at 6-700k per year.

Where as Lodge isnt really filling a position of need as we have plenty of props capable of playing first grade but at potentially 4-500k feels like we would be getting good value for money and allows us a little more freedom to go and top up Walker's contract.

6, with TKO leaving who are these ‘plenty’ props ready for first grade? Do you have both butchers and Watson as middles or are you looking at likes of May?

[Rooster_6]

6, with TKO leaving who are these ‘plenty’ props ready for first grade? Do you have both butchers and Watson as middles or are you looking at likes of May?

I have Watson as a middle but in a lock rotation with Radley so I don't consider him a prop in the make up of our squad.

JWH
COLLINS
NBUTCHER
EBUTCHER
MAY
BAKER

HAU TAPUA, ATONI & VA'A as prospects.

[Random Rooster]

Matt Lodge in 5 games....


29 minutes 12 runs 92 metres 1 error

40 minutes 10 runs 114 metres 0 errors

27 minutes 10 runs 104 metres 0 errors

40 minutes 13 runs 147 metres 0 errors

52 minutes 19 runs 153 metres 0 errors

[roostermcgregor]

The Roosters should only re-sign Lodge if they want to make metres up the middle, bend the opposition defensive line, bring our fast players into the game off momentum and fast play the balls, and if the Roosters want to win football games, win Semi finals and have the chance of winning a premiership.

The Roosters should not sign Lodge if they want to lose games like they did before they signed him, and want to become a pathetic rabble in the middle of the field, exactly the way they played before he was signed.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

I certainly think we should keep Lodge, and have
JWH
Smith
Lodge
Angus
N Butcher
Rads
as our starting pack.

With this bench

Collins
E Butcher
Sitili
Watson or Hutch