Hodges tipping fireworks with Eels
Brisbane centre Justin Hodges is tipping fireworks in Sunday's crunch NRL clash with Parramatta but says he'll keep his mouth zipped if there is any outbreak of sledging. Relationships between the clubs have been icy since Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett questioned young Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne's sportsmanship when they last met at Suncorp Stadium last month. The Eels won a niggling battle 20-16. Brisbane lost momentum on attack at a key moment when Hayne stayed down after pulling off a match-saving head-on tackle on Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday which sent him reeling.
"To see him (Hayne) get up and carry on the way he did afterwards was pretty disappointing," said Bennett who felt Hayne had feigned being hurt. Hayne said he'd been dazed and Parramatta officials were seething at Bennett's comments, with mutterings of legal action. Hodges said he expected plenty of feeling again at Parramatta on Sunday, when finals berths may still be on the line depending on other results. "I'm pretty sure there will be (fireworks) with us trying to get into the eight and after what happened in the last game (with Hayne), said Hodges.
"What happens will be up to Hayney. We're going to go out and give it everything we've got and we expect there could be some fiery moments." Hodges earned a reputation as a sledger while at the Sydney Roosters but the Test centre has largely been a reformed man under Bennett's tutelage since returning to the Broncos.
There were a few worrying signs recently when he stood over Storm winger Steve Turner after he'd barrelled him into touch. Melbourne players rushed in and Hodges exchanged words with Storm centre Matt King.
Hodges couldn't rule out any sledging on Sunday, but said if there was, he wouldn't be part of it. "Not from me. I have to try and keep my mouth shut and play good footy, that's my main goal," he said. Brisbane may get utility Michael Ennis back from a shoulder injury although he wasn't named in Bennett's 17-man squad.
But Test fullback Karmichael Hunt, still struggling with a hamstring, remains a long shot.
Hodges says fear of being part of the first Broncos team to miss the finals in 16 years was in the backs of players' minds. He said teammates did not want the five departing veterans - Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn, Shaun Berrigan, Brent Tate and Dane Carlaw - to go out on such a low note. "We're trying not to think about it too much and just go out there and try and play some good footy like we have the last couple of weeks," said Hodges.
"But it's probably on the minds of every player here. "It's a very important thing, especially with the Broncos being a very proud club. "We know we've got some players leaving and obviously we don't want those guys going out like that. "It's a must win game this week otherwise we could be only the second Broncos team to miss the finals. "There's a lot of guys here who don't want that."
Parramatta looked anything but a finals side in losing to the Dragons on Monday night with Hodges lamenting the Eel's third straight loss. "Obviously they're going to be pretty keen to come out and try and make amends," he said. "It's made it harder for us. They're going to be a bit pretty fired up."
Link : http://nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/6799/Default.aspx
Brisbane centre Justin Hodges is tipping fireworks in Sunday's crunch NRL clash with Parramatta but says he'll keep his mouth zipped if there is any outbreak of sledging. Relationships between the clubs have been icy since Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett questioned young Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne's sportsmanship when they last met at Suncorp Stadium last month. The Eels won a niggling battle 20-16. Brisbane lost momentum on attack at a key moment when Hayne stayed down after pulling off a match-saving head-on tackle on Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday which sent him reeling.
"To see him (Hayne) get up and carry on the way he did afterwards was pretty disappointing," said Bennett who felt Hayne had feigned being hurt. Hayne said he'd been dazed and Parramatta officials were seething at Bennett's comments, with mutterings of legal action. Hodges said he expected plenty of feeling again at Parramatta on Sunday, when finals berths may still be on the line depending on other results. "I'm pretty sure there will be (fireworks) with us trying to get into the eight and after what happened in the last game (with Hayne), said Hodges.
"What happens will be up to Hayney. We're going to go out and give it everything we've got and we expect there could be some fiery moments." Hodges earned a reputation as a sledger while at the Sydney Roosters but the Test centre has largely been a reformed man under Bennett's tutelage since returning to the Broncos.
There were a few worrying signs recently when he stood over Storm winger Steve Turner after he'd barrelled him into touch. Melbourne players rushed in and Hodges exchanged words with Storm centre Matt King.
Hodges couldn't rule out any sledging on Sunday, but said if there was, he wouldn't be part of it. "Not from me. I have to try and keep my mouth shut and play good footy, that's my main goal," he said. Brisbane may get utility Michael Ennis back from a shoulder injury although he wasn't named in Bennett's 17-man squad.
But Test fullback Karmichael Hunt, still struggling with a hamstring, remains a long shot.
Hodges says fear of being part of the first Broncos team to miss the finals in 16 years was in the backs of players' minds. He said teammates did not want the five departing veterans - Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn, Shaun Berrigan, Brent Tate and Dane Carlaw - to go out on such a low note. "We're trying not to think about it too much and just go out there and try and play some good footy like we have the last couple of weeks," said Hodges.
"But it's probably on the minds of every player here. "It's a very important thing, especially with the Broncos being a very proud club. "We know we've got some players leaving and obviously we don't want those guys going out like that. "It's a must win game this week otherwise we could be only the second Broncos team to miss the finals. "There's a lot of guys here who don't want that."
Parramatta looked anything but a finals side in losing to the Dragons on Monday night with Hodges lamenting the Eel's third straight loss. "Obviously they're going to be pretty keen to come out and try and make amends," he said. "It's made it harder for us. They're going to be a bit pretty fired up."
Link : http://nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/6799/Default.aspx
