North Queensland Cowboys forward Matt Lodge is preparing for a return to the NRL in 2027, marking his eighth club in the league.
It was disclosed earlier this week that Lodge would be leaving the North Queensland Cowboys immediately, heading to the English Super League to play with the Leeds Rhinos for the remainder of the 2026 season.
However, it has been clarified that his contract with Leeds is only for the rest of this year, as he plans to return to the NRL afterward, with several clubs keen on signing him.
"It is his intention to come back and finish his career in the NRL," said Lodge's manager Sam Ayoub, according to news.com.au.
"We have strong interest from a number of clubs and are currently in negotiations with two."
This revelation implies that Lodge is making a short-term move, bringing his considerable experience to a new club next year.
At the age of 31, Lodge had expressed a desire to stay with the Cowboys, but coach Todd Payten recently indicated that those rumors were inaccurate.
Instead, the Cowboys focused on re-signing Kaiden Lahrs as their priority, leaving Lodge's situation uncertain until they reassessed their salary cap.
It has since become obvious that the Cowboys will not be able to retain Lodge, despite securing Lahrs for 2027 earlier this week.