https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34872
In 2021, Josh Hodgson, 31, made his second comeback from a knee reconstruction. He spent half of the 2018 season on the sidelines, after suffering an ACL injury in the 2017 World Cup semi final between England and Tonga. He then missed half of the 2020 season due to an ACL injury suffered in the Round 9 loss to the Storm - this time, affecting his other knee.
He made 20 appearances this season, but his comeback was by no means a smooth ride. It was expected by many commentators that the rules of Vlandysball would suit Hodgson. It was thought the quicker rucks and pace of the game would open up the middle of the field for dummy halves. But after two serious knee injuries, it seemed the veteran hooker no longer had the pace for that. In addition, Hodgson is a dominant play maker - and sometimes, he overplays his hand. The spine had gelled well in the second half of 2020, with Siliva Havili and Tom Starling forming an effective hooking duo. Starling, in particular, gave quick service to the halves - and was very nippy around the rucks. With Hodgson's return at the start of this year, the play makers struggled for combinations.
In early May, news seeped out that Hodgson had stood down as co-captain of the club - two weeks earlier, following the back to back losses to the Panthers and Eels. There were also reports suggesting he might switch clubs - and was linked to the Broncos and Bulldogs.
What happened has not been fully explained. But it appears that coach Ricky Stuart had decided to bench Hodgson for the Round 7 clash with the Cowboys - and start the game with Tom Starling in the No. 9. And in those circumstances, Hodgson felt he could not hold the captaincy. Before the team could be announced, Hodgson suffered a calf injury at training. The club only confirmed he'd stood down as captain after the news sensationally broke in the media.
"I've made the decision to stand down as club captain and I informed the team of this a couple of weeks ago," Hodgson said in a club statement.
"I've been out injured for the past two games and I've been working hard on getting myself back on the training field. I can assure everyone that I remain fully committed to the club and I'm looking forward to getting myself back to 100 per cent fitness and helping the team get their season back on track."
When Hodgson faced the media in person, he denied that there was any rift with coach Ricky Stuart - while addressing his future with the club and the emergence of Starling.
"I'm not daft, I'm an old bloke, I've been around a while and I've still got four or five good years in me," Hodgson said.
"Tommy's been playing some good footy and if he's the next generation in terms of what they want to bring throughout the club, I'm fine with that. I love this club more than to let my own ego stand in the way. My first preference would be to spend those first four or five years in Canberra. You've got to do what's best by you, your family and your career."
Hodgson did not return to the side from injury until the Round 10 match against the Bulldogs - on the bench. He took back the No. 9 jersey in the Round 12 loss to the Roosters - and held onto to it through the second half of the season. As the controversy subsided, Hodgson started to forge a good partnership with Starling - with the up and comer being injected at around the 25 minute mark and Hodgson moving into the role of a ball playing back rower. That ended when Starling suffered a fractured jaw in the Round 22 loss to the Storm.
I rated Hodgson an average of 6/10 over his 20 appearances season, with his highest rating of "8" coming in the Round 14 win over the Broncos. In Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Player of the Year voting, he picked up man of the match honours in the Round 10 win over the Bulldogs. With a total of 10 points, he finished equal fifth in the overall Fans' Choice count, alongside Corey Harawira-Naera - but he wasn't in the top five in the Meninga Medal voting. His top tackle count (55) came in the one point loss to the Sea Eagles in Round 23, while he produced his highest running metres gained (117) in Round 17 - also against Manly.
This year, Hodgson produced just one try, but delivered nine try assists and posted 14 total try involvements. That's behind the benchmark hookers, but it was not far off some of them. He ranked fourth among NRL regular hookers for try assists, behind Harry Grant (11), Reed Mahoney (11) and Damien Cook (10). He ranked fifth for try involvements, behind Brandon Smith (25), Grant (19), Cook (15) and Mahoney (15).
He ran less from dummy half in 2020 (just over one DHR per game, compared with two in 2019) and that continued in 2021 (1.24 per game). His average running metres per game increased (31 per game, compared with 13 metres in 2020 and around 25 metres in 2019), but he was well behind the benchmark hookers (close to 80 metres per game). He tended to kick less (under two per game, compared with three in 2020 and four in 2019) and produced fewer kick metres per match (54, compared with 89 in 2020 and 123 in 2019). That no doubt reflected a tactical shift to other players, including George Williams.
Hodgson again topped the average tackle count at the Raiders. Like many hookers, he's often targeted by opposition forwards and he does tend to produce a lot of missed or ineffective tackles. His tackle efficiency rate (88 per cent) was roughly the same as in 2020 - again, below the benchmark hookers (in the 90s). That translated into seven try causes this year (one, in half the games, last year).
Josh Hodgson's contract with the Raiders expires at the end of 2021 and rumours linking him with other club have continued to pop up through the year.
At times this year, his public statements seemed to place him at odds with the club - for example, over the departure of George Williams and Curtis Scott. However, I don't think the Raiders' hierarchy was too concerned by that and they were reportedly impressed by how he put his nose to the grindstone after the captaincy controversy. Coach Ricky Stuart has been keen to downplay any suggestion that the Raiders don't want Hodgson to stay on at the club.
"He’s on contract to us," Stuart said after the win over the Broncos.
“He was brilliant tonight, he’s a big reason why we played so well, as all our other leaders were. I’m very happy to have Hodgo here so he’s on contract to us. I keep hearing it but I don’t take any action on it, I don’t even talk to Hodgo about it. He’s here and I’m the lucky one because he’s a brilliant player and he’s a big part of our football team."
Overall, Hodgson performed well this year - but he has been overtaken by hookers like Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Api Koroisau. I'm not sure that the Raiders will be looking to extend Hodgon's deal beyond 2022, with Tom Starling showing a lot of promise - and in light of his $800,000 price tag.
Tom Starling is still not an 80 minute hooker and the diminutive player has tended to show his best form when playing off the bench. 2022 might be a transitional year - when we again see Hodgson at dummy half during the opening exchanges, and Starling taking over once the opposition forwards tire. That combination worked well in the second half of this year. Time will tell.
How did you rate Josh Hodgson's 2021? Tell us below.
Josh Hodgson's 2021: 6.5/10
