BY CURTIS WOODWARD

Legendary writer Stephen King once said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool”. Well, Todd Greenberg, hammer us into the wall with your biggest sledge hammer, the innocent have been scorned again.

While Todd Carney and Kieran Foran anxiously wait for a decision on their playing futures – Matt Lodge has been cleared by the Queensland Rugby League to return to footy at the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2017.

If everything goes to plan, Lodge will be back playing in the National Rugby League under Wayne Bennett at the Brisbane Broncos as Redcliffe are one of their feeder teams.

“We know that our players need stability off the field to perform at their best on the field,” Redcliffe operations manager Grant Cleal said.

“That is why we take such a holistic approach to recruitment and player wellbeing.

“Taking on a young player that is trying to get his career back on track after early setbacks is a big responsibility and one we take very seriously.”

That’s all well and good.

Problem here is Lodge was facing 25 years in a United States prison for a violent home invasion while on holiday in New York. It all started with Lodge assaulting a defenceless father outside his own apartment. The hulking prop held the father in a headlock and continually punched him in the head. Lodge then stormed the apartment where a 9-year-old and the mother frantically tried to hide with Lodge bellowing, “I come in peace, I’m Matthew Lodge and my lawyer will take care of this!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtqi5uxb6RE

The woman and their son eventually found refuge, locked in their own bathroom, yet even there they weren’t safe. Lodge repeatedly told them they were going to die before punching a hole in the bathroom door. All of this because the father tried to hide two young girls from Lodge who he’d followed from a nightclub at 4am in the morning, also telling them they were going to die. The desperate father, outsized and outmatched, was then locked out of his own apartment while Lodge went berserk inside the apartment, trashing everything. The mum and their boy were still in the bathroom. When police arrived, Lodge hurled a wine bottle at them.

This family will never, ever be the same.

In fact, they’ve moved out of New York – their home of more than twenty years.

Lodge should be in jail.

Instead, he’s on his way back to the NRL.

But Carney and Foran are still considered long shots?

Give us a break!

Carney will potentially know his fate by mid-week with a decision on his battle with former employer, Cronulla-Sutherland, reaching a conclusion. Carney and his lawyers are arguing wrongful termination after the talented five-eigth was photographed urinating into his own mouth at the Northies nightclub back in 2014. If the courts find in his favour, Carney will be signed up almost immediately by one of many waiting clubs.

The NRL appeals committee has already ruled in Carney’s favour citing that the Sharks did not follow due process before terminating his contract.

Carney was an idiot, his mate more so for taking the photo. But did Carney do what Lodge did? Clearly not. Lodge makes Carney look like Mother Theresa.

Then there’s Foran who is attempting to resurrect his career in Auckland at the New Zealand Warriors. His relationship with professional gambler and former brothel owner Eddie Hayson seems to have been broken off (for now), his mental health issues under control and is apparently trying to see his kids as much as possible after his marriage broke down. He’s got issues and he’s doing his best. Is he Matthew Lodge? No he is not.

There’s no way the NRL can allow Lodge back and not Foran and Carney.

You can’t even compare the cases. They’re not in the same ball park, city, sport, country or universe.

Next we’ll have O.J Simpson promoting State of Origin and Chris Brown rapping on grand final day.

Over to you Mr. Greenberg.

Your hard line stance was never anything more than a liar’s most useful tool.

@woodward_curtis