Rugby league legend Justin Hodges has launched a scathing tirade on Roosters enforcer Matt Lodge — setting up a blockbuster bout after Paul Gallen’s farewell fight.
Hodges will face Gallen on Wednesday night and the NSW and Cronulla icon will hang up the gloves, desperate to end his boxing career on a high.
However, Hodges will be no pushover for the lock-turned-boxer (14-2-1, 8KO) after the Broncos and Queensland gun put him on the canvas in their last encounter.
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Lodge previously said his management team had approached Gallen to schedule a fight, explaining he wasn’t in it for the money.
“I’ve been asked to fight, multiple times. I’m sure everyone would love to see nothing more than me get in the ring,” Lodge wrote in a statement on Instagram.
“I’m willing to give 99 per cent of the people what they want. I’ll jump in the ring with the best boxer rugby league has and give him his grand finale.
“I don’t want a single dollar for it.
“Instead I want everyone to throw in what they can afford, get the popcorn out, sit on the lounge and enjoy, I want to donate it all to a good cause.”
Hodges slammed the 27-year-old Roosters prop at the time saying he hasn’t “earned the right” to step in the ring with Gallen — and now he has once again shared his frustrations.
“When I read Lodge wanted to fight Gallen, I was filthy,” Hodges told The Courier Mail.
“Gal and I had made a deal to rematch… then I read Lodge was sniffing around and trying to weasel his way into getting this fight. I was pissed off.
“I’ve had to do it the hard way. Nothing was ever given to me, I’ve worked and fought my butt off to be in this position.
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“Lodge has done nothing to deserve a shot like this, let alone the payday.”
After Lodge’s initial call-out, Gallen also responded: “If he really wants to donate money and cares for these people, donate the money he’s not working hard to earn, he’s getting $700,000 off the Warriors, donate that to a good cause.”
“Prove how much you want to help people. Don’t use other people’s hard-earned money, don’t use my profile.”
Hodges took another swipe, referencing Lodge’s payouts at both the Broncos and Warriors after the 40-year-old played 195 games at the Red Hill club.
“We all know why Kevvie flicked him from the Broncos,” Hodges said.
“Plenty of people would love to smack some sense into him, but I’m in a position where I can get paid to do it.
“I’ve told (promoters) ‘No Limit’ to line it up after I knock Gal out on Wednesday.”
While Hodges respected what Gallen has been able to do for the sport of boxing, he is backing himself to down this opponent before the fight’s end.
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“I am just trying to stop him, six rounds haven’t gone that deep ever so I need to put him away, and that’s what I am trying to do,” Hodges said at the weigh-in.
Meanwhile, Gallen delivered a huge sledge and said he was “no chance” of losing in his last ever professional fight.
“I know if I do what I do and fight my fight he is no chance tomorrow night,” Gallen said.
“We can expect a different Paul Gallen, we can expect someone that hasn’t already fought, he’s always used to be the third man in, the next man in after someone has already done the damage.
“His big front rower doing that in Queensland, he won’t be doing that tomorrow night, he only has me to contend with.
“I know if I do what I do he’s no chance of getting me, he’s going to look for a knockout early, that’s all he has got, he isn’t going to get through six rounds.”