League: Brisbane Broncos great Gordon Tallis questions signing of Matt Lodge

Matt Lodge's position in the NRL has been questioned by many in the lead up to the season, and now Brisbane Broncos legend Gordon Tallis has joined them.

Lodge was signed by the Brisbane Broncos for the 2018 NRL season, which gets underway this week, despite a history of violence toward women with two incidents in 2015.

While he had since settled down and welcomed a son into the world with his partner, Tallis was one of many who raised questions over Lodge's return.

"The Broncos used to release players like that," he told Nine News.

Lodge was sacked by the Wests Tigers in 2015 after he was charged for assaulting his girlfriend at the time.

He appeared in court in September 2015 and was found guilty without conviction after appealing the initial guilty with conviction ruling.

However, a month following his court appearance, Lodge assaulted a New York man who came to the defense of a German tourist who Lodge had threatened on the street.

Fox Sports reported the American man, Joe Cartright, had gone to the aid of the woman after she frantically phoned his intercom at random after a prescription drug and alcohol fuelled Lodge physically harassed and threatened her.

Lodge charged the man's open front door, attack Cartright and tried to force his way into the bathroom where Cartright's partner Ruth Fowler and their son were hiding, Fox Sports reported.

Facing a jail term, New York prosecutors agreed to a plea deal with Lodge in the case.
However, he pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanour reckless assault charge, avoided a prison stint and was allowed to return to Australia.

However, in US civil court, he was ordered to pay US$1.6m in damages.

Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen said it was hard to argue his return if he had cleared all requirements from the NRL, but added his concerns in a video on Instagram.

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"While I admit I am no angel, I have done things on the drink that I'm not proud of, violence against women isn't one of them. Whether it be threatening or physical, that's just a no-go in my books," he said

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg addressed the concerns, and indicated this would be Lodge's last chance in the league.

"Rugby League is very good at giving players a second opportunity," Greenberg told Nine News. "What I'm personally not looking for is any more than that."