Justin Hodges
Encyclopedia
Justin Hodges is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Brisbane Broncos
of the National Rugby League
. A Queensland State of Origin
and Australian international representative centre, he started his career with Brisbane before moving to the Sydney Roosters
, with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership, then returning to Brisbane, with whom he won the 2006 NRL Premiership.
. In his debut, Hodges played exceptionally well, saving two tries in a losing Broncos team. Hodges only played 5 games for the Broncos in his debut season.
. Feeling betrayed by his defection, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett told Hodges that his services were no longer required and pushed him back to the Broncos' feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales
.
. He played in the 2002 Grand Final against the New Zealand Warriors
, which the Roosters won. During his stint at the Roosters, Hodges made headlines for all the wrong reasons, which included a disastrous State of Origin debut were he threw two in goal passes which turned into tries for the opposing team (although Queensland won that match), and being punched by then Bronco Casey McGuire
in a preliminary final against his current club
.
In the second Origin game, Hodges suffered a serious knee injury. Hodges damaged the cruciate ligament in his left knee early in the second half of the match. The game was played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
and Hodges considered legal action against the stadium for the poor state in which the surface was in. However, Hodges decided not to take legal action against Suncorp Stadium.
put Hodges into the lower grade premier league. Hodges however, made it back into the first grade Roosters team. In round 12 he scored a hat trick against the New Zealand Warriors
in a match the Roosters won 58-6 but the following week he was sent off for a high shot on Bulldogs and Queensland teammate Steve Price. He was subsequently suspended for several weeks.
In mid 2004, Hodges went to Brisbane to talk to Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett to seek a return to the Broncos. This was approved by Roosters boss Brian Canavan, but Roosters coach Stuart did not know that Hodges wanted a release from the club. After several off field incidents, Hodges was expected to leave the Roosters mid season and go to the Broncos, but the Broncos did not want this. At the end of the season the roosters and Hodges played in the grand final which was lost to the Bulldogs.
backed Hodges return to the Broncos, despite some fans questioning the merits in which Hodges returned.
With Hodges returning, it caused a problem for the Broncos. They had three centres in which only two could play there. Hodges, Shaun Berrigan
and Brent Tate
all were contenders for the two centre positions. For the early rounds of 2005, Hodges was forced to play on the wing, with Tate and Berrigan the centres. When Brent Tate suffered a shoulder injury, Hodges was able to play in his preferred position of centre.
Hodges had ligament damage in his right knee, and missed two weeks as a result, but returned for the Broncos final match. The Broncos were knocked out of the finals, after losing seven straight matches.
Hodges started the season playing in the centre position and continued to play there for the first 10 rounds of the competition. However injury plagued him over the next 10 rounds, only playing one game for the Broncos in those rounds. Despite this, Hodges was selected to play for Queensland in the first two State of Origin matches, and in the second game when he intercepted a NSW pass and ran 85 metres to score a try.
However, injury sidelined him for over 3 weeks including the 3rd State of Origin match, before he made his return against the North Queensland Cowboys
, a game that the Broncos lost 26–10. The Bronco's form continued to slide, until coach Wayne Bennett
moved Hodges from the centres to fullback, in place of injured team mate Karmichael Hunt
. The team cast off their slump and made it into the 2006 NRL grand final, Hodges' fourth in five seasons. Facing minor premiers Melbourne Storm
, Hodges was selected to play at fullback. In the 20th minute, off the back of a skillful Lockyer inside pass, Hodges scored a try and Brisbane went on to win the grand final 15–8.
At the end of 2006
, Hodges went on to play for Australia in the Tri-Nations Series
, He scored one try against Great Britain
and played in the final match against New Zealand, which Australia won.
. Hodges played in the centres for the trial match against the Crusaders, which they won 32–6. Hodges scored an intercept try just before halftime, in the trial match. In the actual World Club Challenge, against St Helens RLFC, the Broncos lost the game 18–14.
With Karmichael Hunt playing in the halves, Hodges was moved to fullback for the first two rounds of the 2007 NRL premiership. When Hunt was showing poor form in the halves he was moved back to fullback, and Hodges was forced back into the centres for Round 3. In that round, Hodges equalled the Broncos' club record of four tries in a match.
Hodges was again selected for the ANZAC Test, and played in the centres. He also played in all three games for Queensland in the 2007 State of Origin series
. Hodges scored one try in the third game and Queensland won the series 2–1. Despite being sidelined for several weeks due to a knee injury, Hodges finished the season as the Broncos' top try-scorer.
, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.
On 14 October. Hodges was ruled out of the World Cup after finding he needed shoulder surgery and faces up to six months in recovery.
Hodges showed his true toughness in Round 26 against the Newcastle Knights by taking to the field despite having a severe eye infection and an undisclosed illness.
on 8 May 2009.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
match for 2009, and was subsequently picked at centre for the opening State of Origin match. He injured his leg during the first half, and whilst on the sideline for the remainder of the match, New South Wales scored all their tries, which Phil Gould later referred to as "no coincidence". In game 3 he was heavily involved in an altercation with several other QLD and NSW players only 2 minutes before full time. TV broadcasts clearly show Hodges 'egging' NSW players on to fight, following an incident between Steve Price and Brett White
(and later Trent Waterhouse
and Justin Poore
). He later told reporters that he believed what Justin Poore did (lifting an unconscious Price up off the ground) as a "dog act".
At the end of the 2009 NRL season Hodges travelled to England as part of Australia's squad for the 2009 Four Nations tournament.
. He also missed being part of Queensland
's victorious Origin campaign in which it won for the fifth year in succession.
where he scored the match-winning try. Hodges' form in the early part of the season rewarded him with selection in the annual ANZAC test match. Injury was still present in Hodges as he was ruled out for several more games, he was ruled out of the first two games of the 2011 State of Origin series, however made his return in the third game sending his club, state and national captain, Darren Lockyer on an Origin high. He scored a hat-trick
in the round 21 fixture against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, two of which were set up by Darren Lockyer.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. A Queensland State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
and Australian international representative centre, he started his career with Brisbane before moving to the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership, then returning to Brisbane, with whom he won the 2006 NRL Premiership.
2000
Hodges made his first grade debut for the Brisbane Broncos against the Canberra RaidersCanberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
. In his debut, Hodges played exceptionally well, saving two tries in a losing Broncos team. Hodges only played 5 games for the Broncos in his debut season.
2001
Hodges was promoted to the full-time NRL team for the Broncos in 2001, however only played in 12 games for the club. The Broncos failed to re-sign Hodges before the 30 June tampering date, which was to prevent other clubs taking players from other clubs. Justin then signed a three-year deal with the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. Feeling betrayed by his defection, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett told Hodges that his services were no longer required and pushed him back to the Broncos' feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales
Toowoomba Clydesdales
The Toowoomba Clydesdales are a rugby league football club based in Toowoomba, Queensland, named after the Scottish horse breed. They played in the Queensland Wizard Cup since the competition began in 1996 but no longer play in this competition....
.
2002
In 2002, Hodges signed with the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. He played in the 2002 Grand Final against the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, which the Roosters won. During his stint at the Roosters, Hodges made headlines for all the wrong reasons, which included a disastrous State of Origin debut were he threw two in goal passes which turned into tries for the opposing team (although Queensland won that match), and being punched by then Bronco Casey McGuire
Casey McGuire
Casey McGuire is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Les Catalans club of the European Super League competition. A Queensland State of Origin representative utility back, he previously played in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos with whom he won the 2006 NRL Premiership...
in a preliminary final against his current club
.
2003
Hodges played in the first ten games for the Roosters scoring eight tries, but injury ruled him out of the entire season after that.In the second Origin game, Hodges suffered a serious knee injury. Hodges damaged the cruciate ligament in his left knee early in the second half of the match. The game was played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
and Hodges considered legal action against the stadium for the poor state in which the surface was in. However, Hodges decided not to take legal action against Suncorp Stadium.
2004
In early 2004, Hodges broke up with his long-time girlfriend and was given two weeks sympathy leave from the Roosters. He caused further disruption to the Roosters when he missed a training session and club functions to spend time with his friends and family. Subsequently, coach Ricky StuartRicky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
put Hodges into the lower grade premier league. Hodges however, made it back into the first grade Roosters team. In round 12 he scored a hat trick against the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in a match the Roosters won 58-6 but the following week he was sent off for a high shot on Bulldogs and Queensland teammate Steve Price. He was subsequently suspended for several weeks.
In mid 2004, Hodges went to Brisbane to talk to Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett to seek a return to the Broncos. This was approved by Roosters boss Brian Canavan, but Roosters coach Stuart did not know that Hodges wanted a release from the club. After several off field incidents, Hodges was expected to leave the Roosters mid season and go to the Broncos, but the Broncos did not want this. At the end of the season the roosters and Hodges played in the grand final which was lost to the Bulldogs.
2005
After the feud between coach Bennett and Hodges earlier in 2001, some critics felt that Hodges would not be able to fit well into the Broncos team. But during an off season camp, Hodges and Bennett sorted things out and all Hodges wanted to do was play rugby league. Hodges stated that he did not regret going to Sydney, but felt it was time to go home back to Brisbane. Former Brisbane Broncos captain Gorden TallisGorden Tallis
Gorden James Tallis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played from 1992 to 2004. He captained Australia and Queensland as well as the Brisbane Broncos club, with whom he won three premierships and one Clive Churchill Medal...
backed Hodges return to the Broncos, despite some fans questioning the merits in which Hodges returned.
With Hodges returning, it caused a problem for the Broncos. They had three centres in which only two could play there. Hodges, Shaun Berrigan
Shaun Berrigan
Shaun Berrigan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canberra Raiders of the NRL. Brother of fellow professional, Barry, Shaun has also played for the Brisbane Broncos, Hull and the New Zealand Warriors...
and Brent Tate
Brent Tate
Brent Tate is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League...
all were contenders for the two centre positions. For the early rounds of 2005, Hodges was forced to play on the wing, with Tate and Berrigan the centres. When Brent Tate suffered a shoulder injury, Hodges was able to play in his preferred position of centre.
Hodges had ligament damage in his right knee, and missed two weeks as a result, but returned for the Broncos final match. The Broncos were knocked out of the finals, after losing seven straight matches.
2006
In 2006Brisbane Broncos 2006
The 2006 Brisbane Broncos season was the nineteenth in the club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Darren Lockyer, they won the NRL's 2006 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 3rd place before going on to win the 2006 NRL Grand Final against minor premiers the...
Hodges started the season playing in the centre position and continued to play there for the first 10 rounds of the competition. However injury plagued him over the next 10 rounds, only playing one game for the Broncos in those rounds. Despite this, Hodges was selected to play for Queensland in the first two State of Origin matches, and in the second game when he intercepted a NSW pass and ran 85 metres to score a try.
However, injury sidelined him for over 3 weeks including the 3rd State of Origin match, before he made his return against the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, a game that the Broncos lost 26–10. The Bronco's form continued to slide, until coach Wayne Bennett
Wayne Bennett (rugby league coach)
Wayne James Bennett AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Newcastle Knights of the NRL...
moved Hodges from the centres to fullback, in place of injured team mate Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
. The team cast off their slump and made it into the 2006 NRL grand final, Hodges' fourth in five seasons. Facing minor premiers Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, Hodges was selected to play at fullback. In the 20th minute, off the back of a skillful Lockyer inside pass, Hodges scored a try and Brisbane went on to win the grand final 15–8.
National Rugby League season 2006
The 2006 NRL season was the 99th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the ninth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen clubs competing for the 2006 Telstra Premiership...
, Hodges went on to play for Australia in the Tri-Nations Series
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
, He scored one try against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and played in the final match against New Zealand, which Australia won.
2007
Due to Broncos winning the grand final, Hodges, along with the Broncos team, travelled to England to play the World Club ChallengeWorld Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
. Hodges played in the centres for the trial match against the Crusaders, which they won 32–6. Hodges scored an intercept try just before halftime, in the trial match. In the actual World Club Challenge, against St Helens RLFC, the Broncos lost the game 18–14.
With Karmichael Hunt playing in the halves, Hodges was moved to fullback for the first two rounds of the 2007 NRL premiership. When Hunt was showing poor form in the halves he was moved back to fullback, and Hodges was forced back into the centres for Round 3. In that round, Hodges equalled the Broncos' club record of four tries in a match.
Hodges was again selected for the ANZAC Test, and played in the centres. He also played in all three games for Queensland in the 2007 State of Origin series
2007 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2007 State of Origin series was the 26th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. Queensland won the series by winning the...
. Hodges scored one try in the third game and Queensland won the series 2–1. Despite being sidelined for several weeks due to a knee injury, Hodges finished the season as the Broncos' top try-scorer.
2008
In August 2008, Hodges was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.
On 14 October. Hodges was ruled out of the World Cup after finding he needed shoulder surgery and faces up to six months in recovery.
Hodges showed his true toughness in Round 26 against the Newcastle Knights by taking to the field despite having a severe eye infection and an undisclosed illness.
2009
He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New ZealandNew Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
on 8 May 2009.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match for 2009, and was subsequently picked at centre for the opening State of Origin match. He injured his leg during the first half, and whilst on the sideline for the remainder of the match, New South Wales scored all their tries, which Phil Gould later referred to as "no coincidence". In game 3 he was heavily involved in an altercation with several other QLD and NSW players only 2 minutes before full time. TV broadcasts clearly show Hodges 'egging' NSW players on to fight, following an incident between Steve Price and Brett White
Brett White
Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
(and later Trent Waterhouse
Trent Waterhouse
Trent Waterhouse is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League . He has also represented City Origin, New South Wales and Australia...
and Justin Poore
Justin Poore
Justin Poore is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin representative prop or second-row forward.-Playing career:...
). He later told reporters that he believed what Justin Poore did (lifting an unconscious Price up off the ground) as a "dog act".
At the end of the 2009 NRL season Hodges travelled to England as part of Australia's squad for the 2009 Four Nations tournament.
2010
Hodges ruptured his Achilles tendon during pre-season training, and subsequently missed the entire 2010 season2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
. He also missed being part of Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
's victorious Origin campaign in which it won for the fifth year in succession.
2011
Hodges made his return to rugby league from injury in the early rounds of the 2011 season, he was anticipated to return within the first few rounds after playing successfully in two pre-season trial matches however this did not occur and he made his return in a 'local derby' match against the TitansGold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
where he scored the match-winning try. Hodges' form in the early part of the season rewarded him with selection in the annual ANZAC test match. Injury was still present in Hodges as he was ruled out for several more games, he was ruled out of the first two games of the 2011 State of Origin series, however made his return in the third game sending his club, state and national captain, Darren Lockyer on an Origin high. He scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the round 21 fixture against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, two of which were set up by Darren Lockyer.
Honours
| Debut | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... First Grade Debut – 8 May 2000 |
||
| Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... First Grade Debut – 15 March 2002 |
||
| Queensland State of Origin Debut – 5 June 2002 |
||
| Australian Test Debut – 14 October 2006 |
||
| Awards | ||
| with Steve Renouf Steve Renouf Stephen Renouf is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. Of Aboriginal and European descent, he was known as one of the sport's greatest centres. Renouf set numerous records for the Brisbane Broncos club and is considered one of the greatest... , Wendell Sailor Wendell Sailor Wendell Jermaine Sailor is an Australian former professional rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby... , Karmichael Hunt Karmichael Hunt Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League .... , Denan Kemp Denan Kemp Denan Kemp is an Australian professional rugby footballer who currently plays rugby league for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League . A speedy winger, he has previously played in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos and the New Zealand Warriors before a brief stint in rugby... and Israel Folau Israel Folau Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most... |