Josh Hodgson linked with stunning one-year deal

Josh Hodgson will be a Parramatta Eels player in 2023, but his 2022 season is still up in the air.

That’s according to Fox Sports, which has claimed that Newcastle Knights could be sniffing round the English hooker following the devastating injury to captain Jayden Brailey.

Brailey could be out for around six months with a torn Achilles which has left the Knights looking desperately for a replacement – with Hodgson a name touted as a short-term fix.

The English hooker had been locked in talks with the Wests Tigers for much of the off-season, but talks ended after the Canberra Raiders and Wests could not agree on facts and figures.

Parramatta Eels, who have recently lost hooker Reed Mahoney to the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2023, have moved quickly after being linked with Hodgson before Christmas.

Hodgson has one year remaining on his contract at Canberra and he and the club were determined to go ahead with that commitment.

His contract will be over $800,000 for 2021, but a hefty pay cut is likely from 2023 – amounting to over half of what he is currently earning.

The hooker has been an integral part of the Raiders’ Green Machine since joining ahead of the 2015 NRL season and has gone on to make almost 150 appearances.

Hodgson came through the ranks at Hull FC but made just two appearances before moving to bitter rivals Hull KR in 2010.

There he made over 130 appearances, with his quality performances attracting the interest of numerous suitors.

The England international made the decision to join Canberra and has spent seven seasons in the Australian capital.