Re: Justin Hodges on report
New South Wales and Cronulla Sharks skipper Paul Gallen hates defending Queenslanders, but he says Brisbane Broncos veteran Justin Hodges should be cleared by the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.
Hodges was hit with a grade-one dangerous throw on Aidan Guerra in Brisbane's preliminary final victory over Sydney and is contesting the charge at the judiciary in a bid to play in the grand final.
"I'm not in the game of sticking up for Queenslanders but I feel sorry for him that he's even been charged," Gallen told Sky Sports Radio.
"Things happened all at the same time. (Ben) Hunt pulled him down, Hodges only had hold of his leg and Guerra was milking a penalty.
"I don't really blame Guerra, I think if you can get away with it, get away with it.
"He jumped in the air, he put himself in that position.
"I hope the judiciary see it as it was and he gets off."
The retiring Hodges faces the possibility of missing his final game in the NRL if he fails to beat the charge.
Continuing the theme of unlikely support for Hodges, the Broncos captain has received encouragement from Cowboys rival Johnathan Thurston ahead of the season decider.
Thurston, who won a record-beaking fourth Dally M award on Monday night, said he wants to see his Maroons and Kangaroos team-mate take the field at Sydney's Olympic stadium for the last game of the season.
"It would be very disappointing for him to miss it, he is obviously a very great mate of mine," Thurston said.
"But it is out of my control we will have to wait and see."
NRL grand final: Justin Hodges should be cleared at judiciary, says Paul Gallen - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
