‘I’m not sure he needs to keep apologising about it’: Anthony Seibold says Matt Lodge has moved on from New York incident

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold says new recruit Matt Lodge is a totally different person to the man who was arrested in New York eight years ago after he forced his way into an apartment and assaulted someone during his drunken rampage.

Lodge, 28, has matured since then on and off the field but has jumped from the Broncos to the Warriors and then to the Roosters in recent years, with the Sea Eagles signing him this week on a train and trial deal.

The prop forward will play NSW Cup this weekend with no guarantees that he will be signed on a long-term deal, but Seibold is confident that his arrival will force Manly’s other forwards to lift given there’s now a genuine fight for spots.

Seibold has worked with Lodge at two other clubs and says the northern beaches local has moved on from the New York incident that resulted in him paying the victims an undisclosed amount.

“It was almost eight years ago,” he said.

“Everybody in life has made mistakes and had challenges. It was a big mistake and he’s spoken a number of times about it, so I’m not sure he needs to keep apologising about it.

“I know he’s made a number of changes to his lifestyle.

“He’s got a lovely partner and three little ones, so he’s a father and he’s just recently completed a degree at university, so he’s done a lot of things off the field that have given him a lot of growth as a person.

“He’s had his challenges throughout his career, but he brings a competition for spots, and I don’t shy away from that. We shouldn’t have people who are comfortable thinking ‘that’s my jersey every single week’. We want competition for spots.”

The Sea Eagles also re-signed hulking prop Taniela Paseka on Thursday to beef up their middle, which has been an issue for several years.

Veteran Jake Trbojevic has been the glue that’s held it together, and Lodge can provide the grunt up front that they’ve lacked when Paseka has been off the field.

“I don’t think he’s achieved his potential in the game, but I think you saw glimpses of it last year for the Roosters,” Seibold said.

“He’s got the quickest play the ball in the competition and he breaks more tackles than any front-rower in the competition on average per game, so there are some things to like about his game.

“He has had a challenging time, but some of that’s not through his own fault. Some of that has been down to salary cap and roster management and so on.

“I’ll let Matt speak for himself about the last club he was at, but I’ve known him since he was 17 and I trust him and I know he trusts me. He’s not in our top 30, but he’s got an opportunity here.”