'We believe in where we are going': Why Roosters want Lodge

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson believes a more mature Matt Lodge can bolster the club’s forward pack as they prepare to re-launch their premiership campaign after State of Origin.

Robinson previously held reservations about signing Lodge but after meeting with him recently he believes the controversial prop has matured, while strong culture at the Roosters will help him to resurrect his NRL career after a dramatic exit from the Warriors.

The Roosters are close to finalising a short-term deal with Lodge for the remainder of the season and Robinson hopes he will be able to play for North Sydney in the NSW Cup next weekend while the NRL team has a bye.

After three consecutive losses the Roosters have dropped out of the top eight and they face premiers Penrith at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.

However, the match will mark the return of star lock Victor Radley and Robinson is likely to also have the services of prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, halfback Luke Keary and Lodge at his disposal for their round 18 clash with the Dragons on July 16.

“He is a big middle forward, he is a powerful carrier [of the ball], he has got an ability to pass, and he has got a good vision for the game as well,” Robinson said of Lodge. “They are the traits that we wanted, and we felt like we needed.

“It is just for the rest of this season, we believe in where we are going at the back end of this year, so we are going to keep putting the foot down and head towards that.

"That is why we have gone and looked for a certain style of player and that is why we are going to sign him.”

Robinson acknowledged that there would be criticism of the Roosters offering Lodge a lifeline, just as there was when the Broncos and Warriors signed him.

However, he believes the club has a track record of helping to reform troubled players, with Zane Tetevano and Blake Ferguson among the examples.

“There is obviously the timing for us, in terms of the length of contract and the need for us to get a bit bigger coming off the bench," Robinson said,

"Also, we thought we were in a strong enough position culturally to bring Matt in and support him like we have done with other players.

“I think you have got to work out what is a culture for. Is it to build a brick wall around and protect at all costs? Or is it there to develop and improve people?

"I feel like we believe in our Roosters culture and it is there to support. We have done that in the past and we will keep doing that.

“I have met him before and I saw a more mature guy in the discussions I had – a father of two, with another one on the way and a vulnerability of where he is at in his footy, and also a desire to still deliver.

“Matt is open about the stuff he has done in his past and we talked about that. We discussed that and you make a decision about your culture, and what is it really there for.

"You want to improve the lives of guys and we have the opportunity to do that.”

Robinson welcomed the return of Radley against the Panthers and he hoped Waerea-Hargreaves would overcome a nagging hamstring injury before the trip to Gosford to play the Dragons.

Keary is also was back in training after suffering a head-knock in the round 14 loss to Melbourne.

Radley and Waerea-Hargreaves are aggressive “Alpha-males” who lead the Roosters forwards, according to Robinson.

In their absence, the Roosters have won just one of the five matches Radley missed after injuring his ankle against Parramatta in round 10, and none of their three games without Waerea-Hargreaves.

“There is a lot that a player like Jared brings; there is a physicality, there is an Alpha-male there that leads a pack, but that has to fall to other guys and we can’t wait to play tomorrow,” Robinson said.

“Jared and Victor are those guys. We did well at times without them both, or without one of them, but getting them back is important.

“Having Victor coming back after six weeks, he is a ball of energy and he is quite key to the way we play but we want a pack mentality and not just be relying on one guy.”

With Keary sidelined for at least another match, Robinson has selected star centre Joey Manu at five-eighth after his stunning performance at fullback for the Kiwis in last weekend’s 26-6 Test win over Tonga, in which he ran a record 404 metres with the ball.

“I just want to get those guys touching the ball as much as possible,” he said of Manu. “We were close last game, we discussed it at length, and he was there during the Melbourne game - he went to five-eighth and had a really a good impact.

“He has played there before for us, so we decided to put him out there in that role.”