Disgraced NRL player Matthew Lodge has broken his silence on the night he terrorised a family during a violent drunken rampage in New York, saying he was ‘off his head’ on sleeping pills and alcohol.
The 23-year-old said he deeply regrets forcing himself into an Upper Westside apartment in Manhattan in 2015 and assaulting a man, while his partner and young son hid in the bathroom fearing for their lives.
Lodge spent two weeks in a US prison for the attack before being ordered to pay $1.6million to his victims.
After watching footage of the incident on Tuesday, Lodge said he was embarrassed by his behaviour and will do ‘anything’ for forgiveness, Fox Sports reported.
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Matthew Lodge (pictured) has broken his silence on the night he terrorised a family during a violent drunken rampage in New York
The 23-year-old said he deeply regrets forcing himself into an Upper Westside apartment in Manhattan in 2015 and assaulting a man (pictured), while his partner and young son hid in the bathroom fearing for their lives
Lodge (pictured) – who spent two weeks in a US prison for the attack before being ordered to pay $1.6million to his victims – on Tuesday said he was embarrassed by his behaviour and will do ‘anything’ for forgiveness
‘It is not the person I think I am, but looking at that (the video), clearly I am off my head in that video and it is pretty embarrassing and upsetting watching it,’ Lodge said.
‘At the time it was hard for me because it was embarrassing and there’s nothing I can do until I start doing some good stuff.’
Lodge said his memory of the night he broke into the apartment and declared ‘this is the night you’ll die’ is hazy, but labelled his behaviour as ‘disgusting’.
He added that he had a combination of sleeping pills ‘and lots of alcohol’ on the night, but said he no longer has an addiction issue.
With Lodge preparing to take the field for the Broncos in the upcoming rugby league season, his victims Joe Cartright and Ruth Fowler say the brutal attack still affects their young son.
The victims also believe Lodge shouldn’t be allowed to take to the field again to be seen as a role model for kids.
But Lodge said he ‘can’t be more sorry’ and insisted ‘things have turned around’ for him since being sent back to Australia.
He added: ‘They don’t deserve any of that behaviour and I’ll do anything I can to make up for it.’
Lodge (pictured) said he ‘can’t be more sorry’ and insisted ‘things have turned around’ for him since being sent back to Australia
With Lodge preparing to take the field for the Broncos in the upcoming rugby league season, his victims Joe Cartright and Ruth Fowler (pictured) say the attack still affects their young son
Lodge said he has undergone extensive rehabilitation and counselling, as well as self-reflection, which he said he wishes he did as a teenager.
The NRL player broke into Mr Cartright’s apartment about 4am on October 16, 2015, after he came to the assistance of two German tourists outside.
After attacking Mr Cartright, Lodge forced himself into the flat where Ms Fowler and their son Henry hid.
Mr Cartright and Ms Fowler say they have never received an apology from Lodge, and claim he has not paid a cent of the $1.6 million court-ordered compensation.
The NRL player (right) broke into Mr Cartright’s (left) Upper Westside apartment in Manhattan after he came to the assistance of two German tourists outside
Frightening footage of the rampage reveals the moment Lodge violently assaulted Mr Cartright.
In the footage, Lodge is seen threatening German tourists outside the apartment, reportedly asking if they were going to die, before telling them ‘tonight is the night you are going to die’.
Mr Cartright is then seen opening the door to his apartment block to investigate what was happening.
In the footage obtained by Channel Nine, Lodge is then seen charging into the building before unleashing blow upon blow on his victim, who was a complete stranger to him.
In the footage obtained by Channel Nine, Lodge is seen charging into the flat before unleashing blow upon blow on his victim, who was a complete stranger to him
The attack, in which Lodge puts Mr Cartright in a headlock and repeatedly punches him, lasts for a terrifying 15 minutes.
Lodge was arrested when New York police were called to the apartment, throwing a wine bottle at officers in the building’s lobby.
The Broncos recruit then spent two weeks in a US prison before pleading guilty to assault.
The judge ordered him to pay $1.6 million to his victims, and sent him back to Australia on the conditions he needed to perform community service and undergo anger and alcohol management courses.
Lodge has recently been signed to a $100,000 annual deal with the Broncos.
Mr Cartright’s partner Ruth Fowler (together) and their nine-year-old son were forced to hide in the bathroom, where they said they were in fear of their lives
Lodge (pictured) has recently been signed to a $100,000 annual deal with the Broncos
Broncos chief executive Paul White said he signed Lodge because he already ‘paid an enormous price’ for his crime.
His new coach Wayne Bennett said it was because ‘he is a good football player’, and his club said he has turned his life around and has quit alcohol.
The 22-year-old has a disturbing rap sheet, including in May 2014 being suspended for two games for writing ‘c***’ on his wrist strapping during an under-20s State of Origin game.
In early 2015, he was stood down by the Tigers and fined $5000 for an altercation in Kings Cross.
In July that year he was banned by Penrith Junior Rugby League for the remainder of the year for his involvement in an incident alongside Andrew and David Fifita during a junior match.