New North Queensland Cowboys recruit Matt Lodge has called out departed NRL star Nelson Asofa-Somona, wanting to arrange a boxing fight for the end of the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n
Veteran prop Lodge, who turned 30 back in May, had been linked with a move to Super League for 2026 upon his exit from Manly Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n
He has instead penned a one-year deal with the Cowboys though, who will become the sixth club he has donned a shirt for in the NRL after Wests Tigers, Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters and Manly.<\/p>\n
While still playing rugby league, Lodge has also already turned professional in the world of boxing, securing two second round wins in the ring \u2013 against Alexander Ale via knockout in November 2024 and then by stoppage against Jonasa Kavika in March.<\/p>\n
Now, he\u2019s set his sights on the tallest player in NRL<\/a> history, Asofa-Somona, who has just signed a lucrative nine-fight deal with promotion company No Limit following his exit from Melbourne Storm.<\/p>\n JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Click HERE to join and have the biggest rugby league exclusives delivered straight to your device!<\/a><\/p>\n NRL star sets sights on boxing showdown with departed enforcer after shock switch confirmed<\/p>\n Asofa-Somona had been tipped to join rebel rugby union competition R360, but after the start of that was delayed until at least 2028, he made the shock decision to shift sport and move into the boxing ring.<\/p>\n His first fight will come on January 16, with his bout against an unconfirmed opponent forming part of the undercard to Nikita Tszyu\u2019s clash with Michael Zerafa in Brisbane.<\/p>\n