Justin Hodges retires from the NRL

[Porthoz]

For those interested, who were on the field last night during Hodgo's presentation, you can download an aerial photo of the scene and play find Wally (or yourself)...

Download The Justin Hodges On Field Photo - Broncos

 

[Super Freak]

BRONCOS captain Justin Hodges has revealed he knocked back the chance to play for the Cowboys to chase his dream of becoming Brisbane’s next Steve Renouf.

Hodges launched his *career in the Cowboys’ backyard with the Cairns Kangaroos at age eight, four years before he was rocked by the devastating news his mum Cheryl had been diagnosed with cancer.

As Cheryl waged the toughest fight of her life, Hodges set himself the goals of buying his mum a house and launching a personal mission to emulate his childhood hero, Broncos centre great Renouf.

Even when his brother accepted a Cowboys scholarship, Hodges only had eyes for Brisbane.

The retiring skipper can deliver another blow to North Queensland tonight as he ramps up a final premiership charge with the Broncos.

“Being Cairns juniors, the Cowboys were well aware of me and my brother, but my heart was always set on the Broncos,” Hodges said.

“They actually had my brother. Clinton was on a Cowboys scholarship and then I came through, so they had first crack at me but I was never interested in signing for them.

“I loved the Broncos and one of my favourite players was Steve Renouf.

“When the Broncos were winning premierships, he was their gun centre and that’s what I wanted to do.

“I wanted to be just like Renouf, I wanted to play for the Broncos and win a comp like he did.”

Hodges emulated Renouf by winning a premiership with the Broncos in 2006 but perhaps his finest achievement was delivering on his promise to his mum and his father Roy.

Cheryl, every bit as tough as her son, survived her cancer ordeal and Hodges made sure she would never struggle again.

“It was a massive shock, when you hear that word cancer, it scares you,” Hodges recalled.

“I was only 12 at the time and I didn’t know fully what the diagnosis meant for mum, but that became my motivation to succeed and to make sure I could build her a house.

“Her and dad now have a house in Brisbane, so they’re happy. I wanted to look after them for making me the person I am today.’’

Hodges will go into the final stretch of his career motivated by the sight of good mate Greg Inglis lifting the NRL trophy last year.

“It really rammed it home for me,” he said.

Hodges reveals why he knocked back Cowboys

 

[Morkel]

 

[Super Freak]

That moustache...

 

[Morkel]

That moustache...

"When you want to look old enough to buy smokes".

 

[theshed]

Had some spare time so I thought I'd play around with a video editing program. I've never done this before so its probably a bit rough to those with a bit of experience but I thought I'd post it up anyway, being the off season and all.

 

[Super Freak]

That's actually not bad for a first attempt.

 

[Canga]

I liked it