Club feud takes new twist as heated exchange revealed

Details of a meeting between Canberra coach Ricky Stuart and his star hooker Josh Hodgson have been revealed, in which the player stepped down as captain.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the coach called his then-co-captain in for a chat after the team’s round six loss to the Parramatta Eels.

Stuart allegedly laid his cards on the table to Hodgson and brought up several aspects in the hooker’s game that needed to be improved. According to the newspaper, Hodgson became “infuriated” when he believed the points Stuart was making had been discussed on Fox League’s NRL 360 program the night before.

The NRL 360 studio had discussed their belief that Hodgson “overplays his hand” on the field and therefore stifles the attack of halfbacks Jack Wighton and George Williams.

“To say the conversation between (Stuart) and Hodgson became heated would probably be an understatement,” the Herald writes.

It was here that Stuart allegedly offered to release Hodgson of the captaincy for one game, but the hooker effectively offered to step down from the leadership role entirely. It’s reported Hodgson said something to the effect of “if he didn’t want him to lead the team in the bad times, he wouldn’t lead them in the good times”.

Several NRL clubs are reportedly keen on his services, including the Broncos, Sea Eagles, and Bulldogs, despite Hodgson having another year left on his contract.