24HR THREAD! Should 2014 be Hodges' last year?

[Big Pete]

That's actually incorrect BP. Copley played most games at left centre in Toyota Cup, but he did fill in at right centre on a handful of games as well. I've said this before, and I will repeat it again... seeing him on that left edge was like watching men playing boys, he was that far ahead!

He played his fair share on either side because as I said when I watched him from his NYC debut he was playing on the right hand side.

Regardless, the point was he's just as adept on either side and to say he only played right when he came into the NRL is wrong, he played his fair share in the NYC.

It's a credit to Dale if anything.

Back to Hodgo.

If the decision wasn't already made this would make for a much better debate but at the end of the day he's signed onto next year and doesn't look like throwing the towel in so saying that he should pack it in admittedly comes off as selfish.

However, if you want to see why the Broncos aren't the force they once were, it's because they tie all their money up in players like Hodgo who are past their best, only produce the odd big moment against crappy teams and hasn't justified his pay packet since...2007?

Again, I loved Wally & Renouf but when it was their time to go, it was their time to go.

Holding onto players like Hodges and Reed is what's keeping this club back. You guys want tough decisions but when one is tossed up suddenly you get stage fright.

 

[Ari Gold]

Well IMO we do - in terms of genuine centres, we have Reed (who I still believe is serviceable), Copley, and Kahu. And that's before you start looking younger at players like Jordan Drew. If Hodges stays, it means that we have potentially Hoffman, Vidot, Maranta, Kahu, Drew, and then also Reed (and Boyd?) competing for wing spots - and people wonder why we haven't blooded any outside backs. Keeping Hodges really is going to stunt the development of a lot of those players.

The ****? Did you just say Hodges should retire because we have a serviceable guy like Reed who can play there instead?

I feel this is less of a debate thread and some sort of bizarro idea were the mods thought it was April 1st and told everyone but me.

I agree with whoever said that this time next year Hodges is going to make the fact this question was even posed to be absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Nashy]

Creates discussion... Hence the point.

Lol at Reed. He's not worthy to be a skid on Hodges' jocks. Even when Hodges is injured he's still 10 times the player Reed is.

 

[Ari Gold]

If the decision wasn't already made this would make for a much better debate but at the end of the day he's signed onto next year and doesn't look like throwing the towel in so saying that he should pack it in admittedly comes off as selfish.

However, if you want to see why the Broncos aren't the force they once were, it's because they tie all their money up in players like Hodgo who are past their best, only produce the odd big moment against crappy teams and hasn't justified his pay packet since...2007?

Again, I loved Wally & Renouf but when it was their time to go, it was their time to go.

Holding onto players like Hodges and Reed is what's keeping this club back. You guys want tough decisions but when one is tossed up suddenly you get stage fright.

If you want to talk about money tied up, then you can't talk about Hodges until you talk about Kennedy.

As for the Wally and Renouf comparisons, they were released by the club. There are most definitely circumstances (albeit highly unlikely ones) where we should release or look at releasing Hodges. But this thread isn't about releasing hodges, it's about him retiring. In some way implying he's no longer able to be a productive player at NRL level. Which again, I think is ridiculous.

 

[Rally Towel]

Reed is serviceable. Nothing more, nothing less. Like Maranta, I'm happy to have him on the books for minimal amounts/depth purposes.

Him aside, we have other options on our books. While none look to be ready for the switch just yet, make a choice and have them sit outside him this year. Ideally we have Hoffman outside Hodges next year. Boyd /Drew/Kahu/Vidot our other options, with one also to take left wing outside Dale. We get dynamic attack on both edges, and I think Hoffman would pick up a few tricks from Justin to round out his game (beyond strong running).

 

[Fozz]

The ****? I feel this is less of a debate thread and some sort of bizarro idea were the mods thought it was April 1st and told everyone but me.

He's onto us guys! Shut it down.

I think some people are of the view that Hodges spends to much time on the sidelines and the space he takes up in the cap could be used elsewhere.

We are pretty well covered in the outside backs even if they don't have as much talent as Hodges but we do need some help up front. So his salary could go towards a good big prop instead of sitting on the sidelines for half of the year.

 

[Big Pete]

In regards to retirement, I'm fine with him playing on. That's a personal choice but I'm sure the thought of calling it quits has crossed his mind and he isn't the player he was even a year ago.

However, I couldn't care less if he decided to play on elsewhere. My thoughts are on the Broncos and I would have been very hesitant to sign Hodges.

And that's what this thread is about. It isn't about shooting fish in a barrel it's about making tough decisions and it's quite clear the Broncos seldom make them anymore.

 

[Ari Gold]

The banners I looked at both said hang up the boots and retire, nothing about being released. If the intent was discussing a possible release and not his retirement, then it's not as stupid a topic as I thought it was.

My answer would still remain the same though. If we needed his money to sign DCE or someone who could replace him like Hurrell, then I would rip up his contract myself. But sans an awesome signing being made I'm still firmly in the no category. All this talk about our winning record with and without Hodges is, as far as I'm concerned, a reflection of Griffin's poor coaching and his inability to address these issues.

The idea that someone would somehow rather Reed to be running off Hunt and Milford in a WB coached team rather than Hodges still perplexes me.

 

[Super Freak]

I'll keep it short.

The negatives of Hodges outweigh the positives. He is done. Time to move on and focus on the future of the Broncos.

 

[Big Pete]

Right now it would be too late in the season to retire.

But he should have earlier so the Broncos could have used that money to attract a marquee talent.

If his form continues to deteriorate he should definitely be man enough, step aside so the club can spend that money on a better talent.

It isn't about singling out Hodges either, there's others out there in this squad who aren't performing up to their pay packet but this is by far a more interesting topic since very few people have had the gall to raise it.

 

[Unbreakable]

Thaiday & Reed are probably the other two who don't perform to their $$$, it would be a great day for the Broncos if Reed asked for a release and Thaiday agreed to come off the bench as an impact player.

 

[Big Pete]

Kennedy, Hannant, Barba & Glenn too.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Add Gillett as well.

 

[Big Pete]

Gillett is touch and go.

Same with Hoffy.

Yow Yeh belongs on that list...unfortunately.

 

[Super Freak]

Add everyone except for Copley, Hunt and McGuire...

Oh, and Parker..

 

[gordjw]

I'm in the retire/release camp. I also posted some stats in one of the game threads which mirror Allo's, but also that we average more points (6 more points per game) without him.

We've lost 5 games this year by 5 points or less. With 5 more wins, we're joint leaders with Manly.

Of course, it's not all about stats, but you can see that he's throwing out the balance in attack.

I have a hunch (which yes is equivalent to reading the sports section of the paper) that WB is going to sack Hodges if he won't retire.

As with every one of our players though, I hope he has a blinder of a season, and that none of this matters next year.

 

[Splinter]

No
Not until Drew is ready

 

[Foordy]

I would be interested to see the teams we beat without him (considering the stats being talked about) just to see if of those 6 (/8) games we won without him, if those were top teams we beat or teams we were expected to beat