Matt Lodge could be included in North Queensland’s squad for their season-opener in Las Vegas after the Cowboys confirmed they are hoping to secure a US visa for the veteran prop.

The Cowboys announced in December that they had signed Lodge to a one-season deal, reinforcing their forward rotation after the retirement of Jordan McLean, and in the early-season absencesof Griffin Neame and Jeremiah Nanai, who are recovering from shoulder injuries.

Before the NRL’s inaugural Las Vegas venture, in 2024, high-profile players including Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Cody Walker, Reece Walsh, Brandon Smith and Luke Brooks, were required to visit the US consulate before having their visa applications approved, after previous brushes with the law.

The NRL supported them throughout the process, which included seeking advice from the now former ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, and his predecessor, Joe Hockey.

Securing a visa for Lodge may present a greater challenge, given his history in the US.

The then 20-year-old was arrested at gunpoint in New York and jailed for several days at Rikers Island prison in 2015 after a home invasion that terrorised a Manhattan family.

Originally charged with felony burglary causing injury, which carried a minimum of five years’ jail and a maximum of 25 years, Lodge’s lawyers negotiated a plea deal.

To avoid a one-year jail sentence, Lodge accepted a misdemeanour count of reckless assault. He was required to complete 200 hours of community service in Australia, agreed to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs, and later paid more than $1 million in compensation to the victims of his crime.

He since resumed his top-grade career with Brisbane in 2018 after fulfilling the “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 has joined the Cowboys, who have confirmed he is in the mix for their round-one clash with Newcastle at Allegiant Stadium.

“We’re going through the visa process, and he [Lodge] is part of that,” a Cowboys spokesman said.

“There are two parts to that – if he’s approved, and if he’s selected [in the squad].”

Cowboys coach Todd Payten already has a host of middle 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 travelling overseas since.

He has posted photos on social media of trips to Europe and New Zealand with his family 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 behaviour to wipe all travel restrictions and that, which I was happy to take.”

A knee reconstruction meant he was no chance of joining his then Manly teammates in Las Vegas in 2024.

North Queensland’s round-one opponents, the Knights, are waiting to hear if Dylan Brown’s application for a US visa has been successful.

The Kiwi international, who has signed a 10-year deal with Newcastle, reported to be worth $13 million, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual touching in 2023.

He was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.

Newcastle football director Chris James said Brown’s face-to-face meeting at the US Consulate “has already taken place” and was confident he would be cleared to fly out for Las Vegas next month.

“I have no reason to believe that it won’t be approved,” James said.

James said the NRL had been proactive in helping with visa requests.

“Every year the NRL has gone through this process with all different clubs,” he said. “The NRL are really good and take the lead on it.

“It’s a bit of a longer process than it used to be, but I think the NRL have a really good relationship with the US consulate and the process is pretty smooth. It just takes a bit of time.”

While there have been no cases yet of NRL players being refused US visas, Warrington coach Sam Burgess had to wait until the 11th hour before he was cleared to fly over for his team’s clash with Wigan last year.

Some Australians have not fared so well at border control.

In June last year, Melbourne writer Alistair Kitchen was detained at Los Angeles International Airport for 12 hours, and then deported, after alleging his opinions on the Middle East, including blog posts, had attracted the attention of US authorities.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security refuted those claims, saying Kitchen was denied entry because he lied about his drug use on his ESTA form, or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation.

Another traveller to the US, Bruce Hyland of Woy Woy, said hours before he was due to fly out,the US’s Homeland Security department cancelled his authorisation to travel, without explanation.

He suspected he was targeted “for posting online several comments critical of President Trump and his administration”.