Concerns raised about ex-Hull KR star as it’s suggested he could be weak link in Grand Final pursuit

Josh Hodgson has been one of the best English hookers of this century but it is easy to forget hi when considering the top English nines seen as though we haven’t seen him play in England since 2014 and now he is taking on a new challenge in 2023.

He made his debut with Hull FC in 2009 but after only two appearances joined Hull KR  where he made 134 appearances prior to leaving the club at the end of 2014.

Hodgson joined the Canberra Raiders helping start their flurry of signings from Super League including Wigan Warriors stars John Bateman and George Williams who have both since returned to Super League with Bateman back at Wigan and Williams with Warrington Wolves.

Whilst at Canberra, Hodgson developed into one of the best nines in the NRL and even captained the side.

In 2019, he helped the Raiders to the Grand Final where they came up short against the Melbourne Storm.

However, last year he was struck by injury as he picked up an ACL injury.

This was made doubly painful by the fact it was his last season with the green machine as he heads for NRL Grand Finalists Parramatta Eels in 2023.

Now with the Eels, his job is to take them one step further in 2023 and with doubts over the future of Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown it is key they take their chance in 2023.

But it has been suggested that Hodgson could be the weak link:

“When you look at their spine, they’ve still got Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses and now Josh Hodgson coming in, you can’t close a premiership window when you have an elite spine,” Journalist Darcie McDonald said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.

“It’s (a spine) the most important aspect of a team, but (winning) is going to get a lot harder, Isaiah Papali’i is such a huge loss, he is such a good player.

“I’m a little unsure about Hodgson as experienced as he is, he’s coming off an ACL injury, he’s in the twilight years of his career, Reed Mahoney used to play 80 minutes, so the Eels never use to have a backup hooker on the bench.”