Matthew Lodge sacked by Wests Tigers after New York incident
October 19, 201512:10pm
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THE mother of sacked West Tigers forward Matthew Lodge says her son ‘is a good person deep down with a lot of problems.’
Lodge, who is holidaying in the United States, has been charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, assault and menacing, and faces jail time in New York for allegedly stalking two women, assaulting a man and damaging property.
Lodge’s mother spoke to Nine News this morning following news overnight the Tigers had torn up his contract in the wake of the charges.
Lodge had allegedly told the women “this is the night you die” before also allegedly assaulting a man who came to their rescue, the Daily Telegraph has learned.
Speaking this morning, Lodge’s mother said she was concerned for his welfare.
“I haven’t spoken to Matthew at all, no,” she said. “I have no idea what’s happened but I’m concerned for his welfare
“My husband’s on a plane to New York.
“Matthew has a lot of problems. But he’s a good person, he is a good person deep down.”
NYPD officer Arlene Muniz has since confirmed that the troubled 20-year-old faces up to four years in prison.
“Matthew Lodge followed two women home.” Muniz said. “The suspect made statements to the women while they were going into the building.
“The suspect also made his way into the building and then in the man’s apartment who let the women in.
“The suspect assaulted the male and damaged the apartment.”
It is the criminal mischief charge, a felony, that could put him in jail for a maximum four years.
“Felony is a felony,” Muniz continued. “You get a maximum for whatever the charge is for that felony.”
The criminal mischief charge relates to intentionally damaging someone else’s property.
The Tigers released a statement late Sunday night announcing the termination of Lodge’s contract, with CEO Justin Pascoe saying the club would not tolerate “this type of behaviour.”
“The club is incredibly disappointed to learn that Matthew Lodge has been charged by police while overseas on holiday,” Pascoe said.
“We have since made the decision to terminate Lodge’s playing contract with Wests Tigers, effective immediately.”
Pascoe said while the club no longer has a playing contract obligation, the Tigers would offer support and counselling to Lodge.
Lodge, who was stood down by the Tigers last month after being charged with domestic violence and stalking offences in Sydney, had been out celebrating the end of the NRL season on Friday night before allegedly stalking the women as they returned to their apartment building just after 10pm.
A New York City Police Department spokesman said the 20-year-old allegedly told the frightened women “this is the night you die” before following them into the unit complex.
“The women were let into the building by a resident of the building,” the police spokesman said.
“The suspect also made his way into the building and then into the man’s apartment who let the women in.
“He was trying to help them out, he let them into his apartment, Lodge followed them into the apartment, there he assaulted the male in his apartment.
“During the incident (the women) were able to call 911 and police arrested him.”
Once considered one of leagues brightest young stars, Lodge’s career has been plagued by off-field indiscretions.
He was stood down by the Tigers on August 21 after being charged with stalking and intimidation, malicious damage and six counts of common assault, as well as being served with a provisional apprehended domestic violence order.
The matter was last mentioned in Blacktown Local Court on October 14 — two days before his New York arrest.
Wests Tigers suspended Lodge from training during the preseason and precluded him from playing in the Auckland Nines and the club’s final trial match against Parramatta after he was arrested for allegedly failing to leave a Kings Cross venue on January 11.
The club fined him $10,000 — half of which was suspended — and stood him down for a further match in March as part of his punishment after the NRL integrity unit found he had breached the code’s behaviour guidelines.
Last year Lodge was sanctioned by the NRL for writing ‘‘c**t’’ on his wrist strapping while playing for NSW in their under-20s State of Origin match.
