Old Josh Hodgson could be the key

Losing Reed to Canterbury was a massive blow. However, I am not impressed with his development in 2022. He may have peaked. He has done some good things but also created some terrible situations by not being in sync with our two halfs who have killed it generally in 2022.  If josh can rehab and come on board in decent shape, he is going to give us something we have lacked for a long long time. A cool head in a crisis and the ability to control the pace of the ruck similar to what Cameron SMITH would do.  Smithy hardly ran the ball but he controlled the tempo of the game and when Storm needed to lift he ensued the ball was going to the key men EVERY time.  HODGO from 2019 -2020 was a great player in the way he got his big men to come onto the ball and he used his experience to dictate the ruck by taking a few steps to engage markers and bring his forwards back into the corridor. THis opens the defensive line for the playmarkers to stretch the edges. 

  • HODGO has superior kicking game to Reed . 
  • HODGO has game management and experience superior to REED
  • HODGO can manipulate and engage the REFS and increase the infringements in the ruck similar to API from Penrith who idles to the ruck and sums up how square the markers are before he passes. 

BIG IF is he doesnt recover from the injuries and I see him sliding into assistant coach roles. He doesnt gel with MITCH and we lose the scope that comes with two running halves. 

We need to get a classy edge runner/centre and a tough big minute Hombre.  They are all out there waiting to be plucked.  All my own thoughts but the sky is not falling just yet. 

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  • Good blog Paul. I agree .He is an engine room player. I won't judge him until I have seen him play half a dozen games

  • It's worth the risk anyway. Mahoney was going regardless for whatever reason and the worst that can happen is he can't make it back and we medically retire him. 

  • Fingers crossed.  I am hopeful he will be what we will miss in Reed and more.   Just dont want another Anthony Watmough 2.0

    • Please no 

  • Top blog PT.

    Reed is a good player. Would have been good to keep him.

    But if Hodgo avoids injury, he'll be a top buy for us.

    I wonder if Parra are involved in Hodgo's rehab? Or is it all up to Canberra?

  • Hope so mate because Rein definitely wont be.

     

  • 33 years old and coming off his 3rd season ending ACL injury in 5 years.

    He has been average at Canberra over the last 5 years.

    Mahony has a better kicking and passing game than Hodgson. 

    If he is that good, a team Playing as bad as Canberra would've kept him unless Parra are paying overs for him.

    Hodgson was signed by the board to try and save face for their disastrous retention efforts. 

    He will be lucky to last the pre-season let alone the season proper.

    This reeks of the Watmough situation. 

    • Damn i love your positivity. It radiates brightly on these cold gloomy days. 

      • I will be positive when there is something to be positive about. 

  • Yes Yes and Yes........ Im really warmed to the idea of Hodgson on board, and its more then just his skill that he brings, its his experience in staying calm, its his experience in giving service where its needed, its his experience playing in big games.

    I seriously think this guy can return next year, fully freshed, new club, new mates and if he fits in he knows its his last chance at a premiership. I see Hodgson setting the tempo and being able to get the boys back on plan when we deviate, i can see him having a calming influence on Gutho. Most teams that win a premiership have this type of senior player somewhere in the roster.

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