Broncos defend Lodge signing amid DV revelations

The Brisbane Broncos have been forced to defend the signing of controversial forward Matt Lodge amid revelations of alleged domestic violence incidents from 2015.

Broncos chief executive Paul White told News Corp the club was aware of Lodge's court proceedings before signing him in the offseason.

Yesterday it was revealed 26-year-old Sydney primary school teacher Charlene Saliba was subjected to verbal and physical abuse at the hands of Lodge.

"It started with controlling behaviour, then name-calling, then came the emotional abuse, he started throwing things, physically restraining me, (he) spat in my face, then pushing and shoving me, which then lead to threats on my life," Ms Saliba told the Courier Mail.

“I’ve lived the cycle of domestic abuse. I came out the other side. I am one of the lucky ones."

According to court documents, Lodge pleaded guilty in mid-2016 to assault and was given a two-year good behaviour bond without conviction.

Today Mr White said the Broncos "have always taken the strongest stance against violence against women in any form."

“The club has made contact with the NRL Integrity Unit today to ensure that no new information has come to light in today’s media reports, and is satisfied that all the information has been considered in past investigations," Mr White told the Courier Mail.

“When signing Matt, the Broncos were aware that the NRL took this matter into consideration when it mandated a range of work and courses that Matt was ­required to complete over a two-year period before he would be considered for a return to the NRL.

“Matt completed those courses, including courses related to secondary prevention."

Lodge returned to the NRL in 2018 after being sacked by the Wests Tigers over an incident in New York in 2015.

He was convicted of assaulting a New York family and ordered to pay them $1.2 million in damages after he told a female German tourist "this is the night you die" before following her into another family's apartment and assaulting the man who came to her rescue.