Cowboys hope to secure US visa for NRL season opener
He resumed his senior career with Brisbane in 2018 after meeting “fit and proper person” protocols to convince the game’s governing body that he was worthy of a second chance.
After stints with the Broncos, Warriors, Sydney Roosters and Manly, he joins the Cowboys, who confirmed his involvement in their first-round clash with Newcastle at Allegiant Stadium.
Dylan Brown after appearing at Downing Center Court in 2023.Credit: Nick Moir
“We are going through the visa process and that [Lodge] That’s part of it,” a Cowboys spokesman said.
“There are two parts to this; if he is approved and if he is elected [in the squad].”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten already has a number of center forwards at his disposal, including Jason Taumalolo, Reuben Cotter, Coen Hess, Thomas Mikaele, Sam McIntyre and Harrison Edwards.
Lodge’s conviction in New York has not prevented him from traveling abroad since then.
He posted photos of trips to Europe and New Zealand with his family 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 lift all the travel restrictions, which I happily accepted.”
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 opponents the Knights are waiting to hear whether Dylan Brown’s US visa application has been successful.
The Kiwi international, who signed a 10-year deal with Newcastle reportedly worth $13 million, pleaded guilty to two sexual touching charges in 2023.
He was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order at Sydney 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 happened” 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 requests.
“The NRL goes through this process with different clubs every year,” he said. “The NRL is really good and taking the lead on this.
“It’s a little 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 seamless. It just takes a little bit of time.”
Although there have yet to be any cases of NRL players being refused US visas, Warrington coach Sam Burgess had to wait until the 11th hour before his team was cleared to fly for their clash with Wigan last year.
Some Australians haven’t had much success with border control.
In June last year, Melbourne author Alistair Kitchen was detained for 12 hours at Los Angeles International Airport and then deported, allegedly because his views, including blog posts on the Middle East, had attracted the attention of US authorities.
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A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security denied those allegations and said Kitchen was denied entry because he lied about drug use on his ESTA form, or Electronic Travel Authorization System.
Another US-bound traveler, Bruce Hyland of Woy Woy, said hours before his flight, US Homeland Security revoked his travel permit without explanation.
He suspected he was being targeted “for posting various comments online critical of President Trump and his administration.”
