For those who can’t access…
Josh Hodgson has long been regarded as one of the NRL’s craftiest No.9s and at his scheming best, he’s being tipped as the difference between a grand final appearance and long-awaited Parramatta premiership.
Provided his teammates can understand him.
Kangaroos prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard says Hodgson has “fitted in perfectly” ahead of his Eels debut in Thursday night’s season-opener against Melbourne, just the English veteran’s second game in two years due to a round 1 ACL rupture last year.
“The only downside about him so far is the accent,” Campbell-Gillard says of Hodgson’s thick, Yorkshire brogue.
“Deadset, I can’t understand a single word he says. It’s so thick, I don’t think anyone actually understands him.
“Once he slows it down, and we’re talking slow-mo, you can get the gist of what he’s talking about. Mostly. It’ll be fun trying to work that out on the run in a game though.”
Hodgson duly protests that Campbell-Gillard is a lost cause.
“I’ve already toned it down for him and he still doesn’t have a clue,” the former Raiders captain says.
“I don’t think there’s any more I can do for him. And it’s good if I’ve got to serve him up with something he might punch me in the head for, if he doesn’t understand me, then I’m safe.”
Loading
For all the focus on Parramatta’s edge stocks following the exits of Isaiah Papalii (Tigers) and Marata Niukore (Warriors), the dummy-half vacancy left by Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs) is the most influential.
The Eels have thrown the most offloads in the NRL for years now, but Mahoney’s improved marshalling of ball-playing big men like Junior Paulo, Ryan Matterson and Shaun Lane was a key facet in their 2022 grand final run.
“Taking nothing away from Reed, he’s a fantastic bloke and a fantastic hooker, and that made it a massive role that we had to fill,” Campbell-Gillard says.
“But Hodgo’s fit in seamlessly and you can see the combo coming together with the 6, 7 and 1. He’s very, very smart and obviously very experienced.
“And for us, we know how to get to the GF obviously.That next step, it’s probably just being a little bit smarter in terms of some games throughout the year, making sure we cement those and give ourselves a proper shot come finals time.”
Now 33, Hodgson is returning from his third serious knee injury in his 15th year of top-flight rugby league on both sides of the globe.
His combination with both Parramatta’s ball-playing forwards, and star halves Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, will take time. And as far as he’s concerned, a light touch.
“To be honest, I’ll let the other boys take charge, there’s so much skill in this team, less is more for me this year,” he says.
“I just want to keep things going smoothly. Mitch is a really aggressive, demanding No.7 when he wants the ball and that’s great as a hooker.
“I’m looking up, counting numbers and markers, I can’t be wondering what’s going on behind me.
“So the way Mitch takes it on, I’m sure that’ll help my game along and Dylan’s a really strong runner of the ball so I think that’s similar to playing with Jack Wighton, good early ball and let him loose.”
www.foxsports.com.au
