Matt Lodge joins Dragons on train-and-trial contract for 2025 NRL

The St. George Illawarra Dragons have handed veteran prop Matt Lodge a lifeline, signing him to a train-and-trial deal for the 2025 NRL season.

The move provides the 29-year-old with an opportunity to extend his career after a challenging stint at the Manly Sea Eagles, where injuries, including a ruptured ACL and a torn biceps, hampered his progress.

Coach Shane Flanagan confirmed the Dragons‘ interest in bolstering their forward stocks, particularly with experienced players.

“We’ve got 10 middles but three of them are really young — Loko, Latu, Hamish,” Flanagan said.

“So while we’ve got good numbers [in the middle], we’ve got three kids who haven’t played NRL. I’m really comfortable with the players that we’ve got this year and our squad depth, but we’ll still be in the market for a front-rower.”

Lodge, who has played 121 NRL games across five clubs, including the Wests Tigers, Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters, and Manly, will need to prove himself during the preseason to earn a spot in the Dragons’ Top 30 squad.

If successful, he could add much-needed depth to a roster that has struggled to secure top-tier reinforcements.

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“I will definitely be playing in the NRL next year,” Lodge told News Corp in November.

“If I didn’t know I had plenty left in the tank, I wouldn’t be playing on. But I’m excited about the years ahead and I will be ready to go.”

The Dragons’ forward pack currently relies heavily on Francis Molo, Blake Lawrie, and Hame Sele as their only experienced props.

Young talents like Loko Pasifiki Tonga are expected to press for minutes, but Flanagan has expressed a desire to mix youth with veteran leadership.

Lodge’s signing comes after the Dragons missed out on several high-profile forwards, including Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Addin Fonua-Blake, and Corey Horsburgh.

Flanagan’s aggressive recruitment drive has seen the arrival of seasoned campaigners Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, and Damien Cook, but the team still seeks to break their eight-year finals drought.

The St George Dragons are set to face the Canterbury Bulldogs in round 1 of the 2025 NRL season, with top NRL bookmakers currently offering $3.40 for the upset win.

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