He has since resumed his first-class career in Brisbane in 2018 after meeting fit-and-proper person protocols to convince the game’s governing body that he deserves a second chance.
After spells with the Broncos, Warriors, Sydney Roosters and Manly, he joins the Cowboys, who have confirmed he is in the mix for their round one clash with Newcastle at Allegiant Stadium.
Dylan Brown after appearing in Downing Center Court in 2023.Credit: Nick Moir
“We’re going through the visa process and he. [Lodge] he’s part of it,” a Cowboys spokesman said.
“There are two parts to that – if it’s approved, and if it’s selected [in the squad].”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten already has a plethora of middle forwards at his disposal including Jason Taumalola, Reuben Cotter, Coen Hess, Thomas Mikaele, Sam McIntyre and Harrison Edwards.
Lodge’s convictions in New York have not prevented him from going overseas since.
He has posted photos of family trips to Europe and New Zealand on social media and told podcaster James Graham last year: “I did two or three hundred hours of community service, then they offered me another year of good behavior to clear all the travel restrictions and I was happy to take it.”
A knee reconstruction meant he had no chance of joining his then Manly team-mates in Las Vegas in 2024.
North Queensland’s first-round rivals the Knights are waiting to hear whether Dylan Brown’s US visa application has been successful.
The Kiwi international, who signed a 10-year contract with Newcastle worth $13 million, admitted two charges of sexual touching in 2023.
He was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order at Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court.
Dylan Brown plays for New Zealand in 2025.Credit: Getty Images
Newcastle director of football Chris James said Brown’s face-to-face meeting at the US consulate had “already taken place” and he was confident he would be cleared to fly to Las Vegas next month.
“I have no reason to believe it won’t be approved,” James said.
James said the NRL had been proactive in assisting with visa applications.
“Every year the NRL has gone through this process with all the different clubs,” he said. “The NRL are really good and they are taking the lead.
“It’s a bit of a longer process than it used to be, but I think the NRL has a really good relationship with the US consulate and the process is pretty smooth. It just takes a bit of time.”
While there have so far been no reported cases of NRL players being refused US visas, Warrington coach Sam Burgess had to wait until the 11th hour to be cleared to fly over for his side’s clash with Wigan last year.
Some Australians didn’t fare so well at border checks.
In June last year, Melbourne writer Alistair Kitchen was detained at Los Angeles International Airport for 12 hours and then deported after he claimed his views on the Middle East, including blog posts, had attracted the attention of US authorities.
Loading
A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security denied the claims, saying Kitchen was denied entry because he lied about drug use on an ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, form.
Another U.S. traveler, Bruce Hyland of Woy Woy, said hours before he was due to depart, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked his travel authorization without explanation.
He suspected he was targeted “for posting several comments critical of President Trump and his administration on the Internet.”
Leave a Reply