Justin Hodges retires from the NRL

[Unbreakable]

Hodges Makes Career Announcement - Broncos

JUSTIN Hodges will announce this morning that he will retire from rugby league at the end of the 2015 NRL season.

He will make the announcement with coach Wayne Bennett and chief executive Paul White.

“I just want to thank my family and friends, all the coaches, staff and past teammates at the Broncos, and all the fans for the support they have given me over my career,” said Hodges today.

“I just feel now is the right time to announce this so the team and I can concentrate on playing our best football for the Broncos for the rest of the season.”

Hodges had a contract with the Broncos for 2016 but has decided that this year will be his last for a body that has shown amazing resilience to return from major injuries.

The Cairns Kangaroos’ product made his debut as a 17-year-old for the Broncos against Canberra on May 8 of the 2000 NRL season.

He played two seasons with the Broncos before heading south to the Roosters in 2002, during which time he made his State of Origin debut for Queensland.

He returned to the Broncos for the 2005 season, and was one of the lynchpins as Brisbane won the 2006 grand final over raging favourites the Storm.

Hodges also played the first of his 13 Tests for the Kangaroos in 2006.

Queensland’s series-clinching 52-6 win over NSW in July was Hodges’ 24th Origin match, and Friday’s clash with the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium will be his 188th NRL game for the Broncos.

Including his time at the Roosters, Hodges has played 245 NRL matches.

 

[lynx000]

Hodges announces retirement at season end

The big fella is calling it quits, great career

http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2015/08/10/hodges_makes_career_.html

 

[Unbreakable]

Good on you mate, better to go a year early than a year late. Great career, will be missed.

 

[morganmorgan]

Coaching job/mentor role?

 

[Unbreakable]

Coaching job/mentor role?

Doesn't come across as the coaching type, I'd happily have him stay on and work with our backs for a year or two though, they could certainly learn some valuable stuff from him.

 

[Morkel]

The right time.

 

[Socnorb]

What great career.

 

[broncos4life]

Great career and the right time to call it. Well done Hodgo

 

[Sproj]

He will be missed.

 

[bb_gun]

Yeah it feels like the right time for him to go, what a legend! Despite what happens this season, getting to smash NSW one last time will be the best send-off this guy could ever ask for.

I'm now expecting a few re-signing announcements to follow and hopefully J Nik is among them...

 

[Nashy]

Re: Hodges announces retirement at season end

Onya Hodgo.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Re: Hodges announces retirement at season end

Good move on his part, winning a premiership or not this year I think his going out at the right time and he will be remembered for the player he is, rather then a player past his prime.

 

[Fozz]

Damn, gonna miss the big fella.

 

[lynx000]

Re: Hodges announces retirement at season end

Yes I agree, the signs were there on the weekend that another season might be one too many.

 

[GCBRONCO]

 

[Morkel]

Merging threads now...

 

[lynx000]

And my apologies to admin for the multiple threads, three of us posted all at the same moment

 

[Unbreakable]

Great vid, forgot some of those tries, he had some deceptive speed back in the day, burned a few players.