Brett Hodgson

Brett Hodgson

Hodgson in 2005
Personal information
Born	(1978-02-12) 12 February 1978 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	78 kg (12 st 4 lb)[1]
Position	fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1997–99	Western Suburbs	49	18	37	1	147
2000–03	Parramatta Eels	73	36	106	0	356
2004–08	Wests Tigers	102	38	317	0	786
2009–10	Huddersfield	51	16	182	0	428
2011–13	Warrington	75	39	314	2	786
	Total	350	147	956	3	2503
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2001–08	City NSW	6	0	4	0	8
2002–06	New South Wales	6	1	5	0	14
2011–13	Exiles	3	2	4	0	16
Source: NRL Stats & RLP

Brett Hodgson (born 12 February 1978 in Liverpool, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s and one of the current Assistant Coaches at Widnes Vikings working alongside Dennis Betts and Mick Cassidy. A New South Wales State of Origin representative goal-kicking fullback, he played his club football in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers (with whom he won the 2005 NRL premiership), and in Super League for Huddersfield (with whom he won the 2009 Man of Steel Award) and Warrington Wolves. Hodgson also gained representative selection for Exiles and City NSW.

Playing career

An Ingleburn RSL (Campbelltown) junior, Hodgson was graded to the Western Suburbs Magpies. He made his first-grade debut under coach Tommy Raudonikis in round 11 of the 1997 ARL season, when Wests met the South Queensland Crushers at Campbelltown Stadium.^[2]

In 2008, Hodgson was the last remaining pre-2000 Western Suburbs Magpies' footballer playing in the NRL,^[3] before the return of John Skandalis in 2009, and Ray Cashmere in 2012.

Parramatta

In 1999, Hodgson turned down a position with the new Wests and Balmain Tigers joint venture club, Wests Tigers, and, to obtain a fullback position, he signed with Parramatta for the 2000 NRL season.^[4][5] Hodgson's season was cut short following a high tackle from Cronulla's Mitch Healey, breaking his jaw.^[6]

The 2001 season was a successful one for Hodgson and Parramatta. Hodgson was selected for City Origin and the club made it to the grand final.^[7] Described as a "lethal, attacking full-back", Hodgson played at fullback and scored two tries in Parramatta's loss to the Newcastle Knights in the 2001 NRL grand final.^[4] During his time at the Eels, Hodgson was the recipient of Gordon Tallis's famous slingshot tackle, whilst was representing NSW in the 2002 State of Origin series. In 2003, Hodgson's final year at Parramatta was cut short in round 16 with a rib injury.

Wests Tigers

Hodgson returned to Campbelltown when he signed with the Wests Tigers in 2004. Taking over goal-kicking duties, a position he had sometimes filled in previous seasons, he scored 194 points for the year.

In round 24 of the 2005 season, Hodgson scored a club record 22 points during a 54-2 flogging of the Bulldogs.^[8] Three weeks later, he broke his own record, scoring 30 points against the Cowboys. Hodgson's successful 2005 season resulted in the Dally M Fullback of the Year and the NRL competition's leading pointscorer with 308 points,^[9] the most points ever scored by a fullback in one season. He went on to play and kick five goals in the Tigers' 2005 NRL Grand Final victory over the North Queensland Cowboys. As NRL Premiers Wests faced Super League champions Bradford Bulls in the 2006 World Club Challenge. Hodgson played at fullback, scoring a try and kicking one goal in the Tigers' 30-10 loss.

On 23 July 2006, midway through the first half of the clash between Wests Tigers and his former club, Parramatta Eels, Hodgson sustained medial and cruciate ligament injuries and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. In Round 12 of 2007, Hodgson fractured his cheekbone in the match against the Parramatta Eels. After surgery to repair the fracture, Hodgson was sidelined for seven rounds and returned in Round 20 for his 200th first-grade game, a resounding win against the North Queensland Cowboys.^[10]

Hodgson playing for Wests in 2008

Salary cap restraints at the Wests Tigers forced Hodgson to look elsewhere for a contract for the 2009 season.^[11] Hodgson said his departure was, "through lack of opportunity in Australia. There was absolutely nothing here. If you've been in the game seven, eight, nine or 10 years I think there needs to be some sort of [salary cap] allowance."^[12]

Hodgson played his last game for the Wests Tigers on 7 September 2008 and although the club failed to make the top eight, they did send Hodgson out with a win against the Gold Coast Titans, 28–12. Hodgson was named Man of the Match.^[13] At the club's end of season awards, Hodgson was voted the Members' Player of the Year for 2008.^[14]

In 2015, Hodgson was named a Wests Tigers' life member.^[15]

Huddersfield

Hodgson signed a two year deal to play in the UK for Huddersfield from 2009.^[11] In February, 2009, Hodgson was named team captain, replacing Chris Thorman.^[16] He played for Huddersfield at fullback in the 2009 Challenge Cup final, as they lost to Warrington.

Hodgson was awarded with the Super League's 'Man of Steel' Award after his first season with Huddersfield, becoming only the fourth Australian to win the prestigious award since it was introduced in 1977. In April 2010 it was announced that Hodgson has signed for Super League rivals Warrington from 2011 on a two year contract.^[17] His final day as an official Huddersfield player was on 7 October 2010.

Warrington

Hodgson become the first choice fullback for Warrington in the 2011 season. Hodgson was selected for the Exiles squad for the inaugural Rugby League International Origin Match against England. Hodgson was selected by Exiles coach Brian McLennan to play at fullback. He had a solid game and helped the Exiles win the first International Origin 16-12. He led the Wire to the league leader's shield, but they fell at the quarter-final stage of the Challenge Cup (to Wigan) and semi-final stage of the Super League play-offs (to Leeds). Due to an injury early in the 2012 season, and a rotation policy, he shared fullback duties with Stefan Ratchford, being used mainly for the more important games. Two days before Warrington beat Wigan 30-10 in the league, it was announced that 10 Warrington players had signed contract extensions, including Hodgson for a further two years, taking him to the end of the 2014 season when he will be 36.

Hodgson was instrumental as he led Warrington to the 2012 Challenge Cup final victory, their 3rd in 4 years (Hodgson's first Challenge Cup winners medal) on 25 August, beating Leeds 35-18 in the final, Hodgson scoring a try and kicking 5 goals as he also he became only the 4th Australian to win the Lance Todd Trophy man of the match award.

Hodgson was selected as captain of the Exiles with former captain Danny Buderus moving back to Australia, new coach Daniel Anderson selected Hodgson at fullback however an injury kept him out of Game 1 in which his side lost 18-10. He featured at fullback for Game 2 and took over captaincy from stand in captain Thomas Leuluai, Hodgson lead his team to a 32-20 win to retain the trophy and scored 2 tries and kicked 4 goals in the process.

Hodgson left the Wolves at the end of the 2013 season to join the Widnes Vikings coaching staff for the season ahead

Highlights

• First Grade Debut: 1997 – Round 11, Western Suburbs Magpies v South Queensland Crushers, Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney, 18 May.
• Premierships: 2005 – Wests Tigers defeated North Queensland Cowboys 30 - 16 in the Grand Final, Stadium Australia, Sydney, 2 October.
• Wests Tigers Club Captain: 2006-2008
• NSW City Origin Debut: 2001 – NSW City Origin v NSW Country Origin, Carrington Park, Bathurst, New South Wales, 8 June.
• NSW City Origin Selection: 2001-02, 2004–06, 2008
• NSW City Origin Captain: 2008
• New South Wales Debut: 2002 – State of Origin Game 1, New South Wales v Queensland, Stadium Australia, Sydney, 22 May.
• New South Wales Selection: 2002, 2006
• Exiles Debut: 2011 - International Origin Match, England RL vs Exiles RL, Headingley, Leeds, 10 June.
• Exiles Selection: 2011, 2012

References

Sources

• Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd. pp. s 241–242. ISBN 978-1-877082-93-1. 
• Malcolm Andrews (2006). ABC of Rugby League. Sydney, New South Wales: ABC Books. p. 716. ISBN 978-0-7333-1946-4. 

External links

• Huddersfield Giants profile
• Brett Hodgson at NRL.com