Sydney Roosters' coach Trent Robinson is backing his club's strong culture to support and get the best from Matt Lodge when he arrives for the rest of the NRL season.
The Roosters haven't yet completed the deal but Robinson confirmed on Thursday it was "on the way", hoping the 27-year-old prop can resume in NSW Cup next weekend when the NRL side has the bye.
Lodge has been unattached for about a month since he walked away from the Warriors and is poised to join the fourth NRL club of his career after a conversation with the Roosters' coach alleviated any doubts that he could be a good fit.
"You've got to work out, what's the culture for?" Robinson told reporters.
"Is it to build a brick wall around and protect it at all costs, or is it there to develop and progress people?
"We believe in our Roosters culture ... it's there to support people and we've done that in the past, and we'll keep doing it now.
"I've met (Lodge) before ... I saw a more mature guy in the discussions that I had, a father of two with another one on the way ... (there's) a vulnerability there about where he's at in his footy and also a desire to still deliver."
If he settles in well, Lodge looms as a handly and well-timed signing for a Sydney forward pack Robinson admits could do with some extra power off the bench, particularly with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves nursing an injury.
While the Roosters (7-8) slipped outside the eight after beginning the campaign as one of the premiership favourites, Robinson remained confident they can get back in the hunt.
"We believe in where we're going at the back end of this year, so we're going to keep putting the foot down and head towards that," Robinson said.
"He (Lodge) is a big middle forward, he's a powerful carrier with good ability to pass and he's got a good vision for the game as well ... they're the traits that we wanted."
The Roosters remain without five-eighth Luke Keary as he again battles concussion symptoms, set to miss his second game after a head knock in their loss to Melbourne on June 11.
Robinson said signs were positive the half would be back soon, adding he remained confident of Keary's long-term playing future.
"He's back in and around training, and he's had some good discussions with specialists," he said.
"He's got a training plan to get back to playing, so all that's all really positive.
He'll be back soon ... but there's always steps towards returning so you just got to keep going through the gates."
Australian Associated Press
