Hodgo the Broncos coach?

[ivanhungryjak]

JUSTIN Hodges has revealed his plan to coach the Broncos and become the code’s most successful indigenous mentor since Queensland icon Arthur Beetson.As Wayne Bennett approaches his 66th birthday, Hodges outlined his vision to one day fill the Broncos hot seat made famous by Brisbane super coach Bennett.

Retired Broncos skipper Hodges opened up about his transition to the business world, seven weeks after his crushing finale in Brisbane’s grand-final loss to the Cowboys.

Hodges will start employment in the New Year in Brisbane’s community and commercial arms, but he aims to return to the NRL coalface as the Broncos’ first indigenous coach.

“I’d love to be head coach of the Broncos one day,” said Hodges, Brisbane’s 195-game stalwart.

“I know it will take a lot of hard work, but I am serious about wanting to be an NRL coach.

“It’s a pretty exciting and nerve-wracking time for me _ all I’ve known is rugby league and now I’m stepping into the real world by getting a job at the Broncos.

“But hopefully down the track I can offer something to the club with its football (department).

“There has never been an indigenous coach that has won an NRL competition so that really burns a fire in me to try and do that.”

Hodges’ coaching ambitions would make him an indigenous poster boy for change in the NRL.

While the code is littered with freakish Aboriginal talents such as Hodges, Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis, few indigenous athletes make the transition to the pressures of NRL coaching.

NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley has Aboriginal ties and Queensland rival Mal Meninga is a South-Sea Islander. But there is currently no NRL coach with indigenous bloodlines and Hodges wants to prove Aboriginal stars can be successful with the clipboard.

Beetson, who died in 2011, is arguably the code’s greatest indigenous coach, presiding over 192 games with Easts and Cronulla and leading Queensland to four Origin series wins.

Hodges said he had spent recent years analysing coaches, notably Bennett, who could retire at age 67 when his Broncos contract expires at the end of 2017.

“I started thinking about coaching more in the last two or three years,” Hodges said.

“I’ve been studying games. I’ve also looked at coaches I have been coached by and I’ve been learning from Wayne. I like what he brings to people and football clubs. He gets a lot of players reaching their potential and that really struck home for me.

"Right now I have a lot to learn about coaching but I've always loved a challenge.

“I enjoy seeing people develop and succeed and if I can help the next generation of footballers at the Broncos achieve their dreams, then I’d like to be a part of that.

“I might get a few more grey hairs in coaching, but at least I can buy some hair dye.”

Broncos CEO Paul White said Hodges would be an asset to Brisbane’s corporate division.

“I started working with ‘Hodgo’ on his plan for life after football four years ago,” White said.

“He will be valuable working in the commercial side of the business and I want him to succeed as much in this endeavour as he did as a player.

We want players to have a long career with our club and that involves providing a development pathway for players post-football."

What do you reckon?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ndigenous-mentor/story-fni3gv5x-1227621459960

 

[tommy]

Good players don't necessarily make good coaches . He only just retired . Talk of him coaching is extremely premature ,he needs to take a break from the game for a few years . We already have a coach .

 

[abashii]

I can see Hodgo getting into coaching, but as a Mal Meninga style leader and man manager as opposed to being a tactician. He could do a fair job of it too, over the last few years he really grew and took on a leadership/mentoring role. Best of luck to him.

 

[Morkel]

I can see Hodgo getting into coaching, but as a Mal Meninga style leader and man manager as opposed to being a tactician. He could do a fair job of it too, over the last few years he really grew and took on a leadership/mentoring role. Best of luck to him.

Yeah same. Motivator, mentor, certainly a great giver of advice as he's done it all, right & wrong.

 

[Broncoman]

Past players like Hodges should take a break from the game and work their way up if they are going to try their hand at coaching. It's good to see he has ambitions and goals for his future.