Hodges to Retire from Rep Footy in the Not-Too-Distant Future

[redbur95]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...ing/story-fn31yxah-1226655422453#.Uasc_9hvxMY

He treasures every one of his 15 State of Origin jumpers but Queensland warrior Justin Hodges admits the day is drawing nearer when his NRL club Brisbane will be his only priority.

At 31, and battling constant hamstring issues, Hodges goes into Wednesday night's opening clash with NSW with the psyche that it could be his last Origin game.

He admits the thought of doing a Shane Webcke and stepping down from Queensland duty to give Brisbane his total attention has run through his mind.

"Obviously, I'm getting older and the club always comes first," said Hodges, who might have a painkiller before taking the field.

"I think it's slowly coming to that time when I have to give rep footy away.

"You never want to give it away as it's always something you've dreamed of, wearing those jerseys with your name across the back.
"When you get injured, you've got to fight to get them back because you don't ever want to ever let it go."

"(But) I'll keep going until the body stops."

Hodges said he wouldn't take the field against the Blues if he didn't think he could do the job.

"I won't put the Queensland jersey in jeopardy. I wouldn't go out there and disrespect it," he said.

Hodges faces quicksilver Sydney Rooster Michael Jennings, who is expected to be a different proposition than last year when he was chosen from reserve grade after a falling out with Penrith.

"We always have good battles. The obvious thing with Jenno is his speed, which I haven't got a lot of," said Hodges.

"I've just got to be on my toes and not give him much room. If you give him too much, you can see what he's done to teams this year.

"He's also got the same combination inside of him with (Roosters teammates) (Mitchell) Pearce and (James) Maloney."
Hodges is focused on helping Queensland clinch an eighth successive series but also harbours a burning desire to play for Australia in the end-of-year World Cup.

Injury has denied him in the past and this could be his last opportunity.

"It (a World Cup) ia something I haven't done yet. In 2008, I had my shoulder reconstruction and couldn't play.

"Obviously, playing in a World Cup and winning it would be something special."

Is this good or bad? As a Broncos fan, I think this is great, but as a Maroons and Kangaroos fan, I think this is bad.

 

[Big Pete]

It's a year too late.

Could do with him right now.

 

[Alec]

He's useless for QLD. Tate is at least 100 times the player he is for QLD, and with Folau likely coming back there's just no room for him.

 

[Big Pete]

To be honest, the only reason I think Hodgo is playing this series is because he wants to play in the World Cup.

Can't begrudge him that, just wish we got the best of both worlds.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Good news for us. Not surprising either. Hes struggling to play consecutive weeks at the moment let alone a season with added rep games.

 

[jarro65]

Yeah good news ..... he's more valuable to the Broncos cause than QLD's theses days.

 

[Unbreakable]

Good news in my opinion, he was probably close to being pushed out of the starting 17 for Queensland next year anyway, give it up after 8 in a row Hodgo!

 

[Coxy]

Agree with Pete. Should have done it this year.

 

[Mister Wright]

I thought Hodges had one of his best series last year. It won't be surprising if he does call it a day. It might extend his Broncos career by another year or two.

 

[Kimlo]

I'm also in the wish he retired from rep duties this year camp.
At least it looks like he can just focus on club footy next year because his body isn't up to the extra 3 origin games per year.

 

[Son Edo]

Geat idea Hodge, you don't need those maroon wankers. :thumbup1:

 

[subsbligh]

As a Broncos fan, I think the best thing is for Hodgo to retire.

As a Qld fan, indifferent about his absence. He is solid, a great competitor and all but at Origin level his bag of tricks i.e. the dummy half scoot and one on one "slow-mo-stop-and-go", are a bit redundant. PS happy to eat my words if he has a blinder on Wednesday.

For him, I imagine it is hard. You'd feel left out come Origin time and if you can't play at your highest level, what's the point?

 

[coreyh88]

The kangaroos can easily do without him thanks to Jennings Morris and Ferguson. As a maroon fan it could be an issue as we don't have another centre near to his calibre hence Inglis not being a fullback. There isn't anyone to replace him we are very low on outside backs. But as a broncos fan first and foremost I don't care. Until we have yow yeh back at least we desperately need him

 

[Charmamba]

The kangaroos can easily do without him thanks to Jennings Morris and Ferguson. As a maroon fan it could be an issue as we don't have another centre near to his calibre hence Inglis not being a fullback. There isn't anyone to replace him we are very low on outside backs. But as a broncos fan first and foremost I don't care. Until we have yow yeh back at least we desperately need him

There are plenty of players to replace him in the QLD team as well, Tate, Chambers, Nielsen and Gagai for starters.

 

[Coxy]

The kangaroos can easily do without him thanks to Jennings Morris and Ferguson. As a maroon fan it could be an issue as we don't have another centre near to his calibre hence Inglis not being a fullback. There isn't anyone to replace him we are very low on outside backs. But as a broncos fan first and foremost I don't care. Until we have yow yeh back at least we desperately need him

Chambers would be outstanding this year.
Gagai would be ready next year.

Inglis plays centre because of B. Slater. Despite him being in average form this year, you don't shift Slater. He's been arguably Queensland's biggest match winner since his debut in 2004. If he got injured I'd put Inglis at fullback in a heartbeat, and Chambers straight into the centres.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

cant he just retire now so we can have chambers on wed night?!!

 

[Son Edo]

Oh I see, It's just another motivation thing for Queensland, just like Lockyer and Petero retirements.

 

[coreyh88]

Yeah Hodge definitely shouldn't have played tonight. He had a horrible game. He didn't cause any tries and not a single time he ran the ball from dummy half meters did he make 10 metres. I saw so many defensive errors too. While we're on the topic. The broncos clearly have the talent to go far in the comp. Apart from thaiday everyone of our players was amazing tonight (Gillett needs to play from the bench) (thaiday needs to play second row). Hodges made ingles look silly tonight. Ingles has been out of centre too long. He was comparatively poor defensively (letting Haynes go over the top of him) and apart from the one time he flick passed it to boys offered nothing in attack. Btw I cant turn off auto correct.