State of Origin Player Profiles: Justin Hodges

Nick Fray, Origin Online and Over the Line Sports

Origin Online continues its series of player profiles as we count down to Origin Two, with reborn centre superstar Justin Hodges.

Justin Hodges, Queensland

Centre, Brisbane Broncos

Origin Appearances: 19

Origin Tries: 5

Origin Status: Queensland’s greatest redemption story

June 5, 2002 – Queensland has just levelled the series with a 26-18 in yet another Origin classic. All of Queensland is rejoicing at the result, except for one man. Rookie winger Justin Hodges, already a controversial figure north of the border after defecting to the Roosters under dubious circumstances, was a shattered man after his Origin debut, infamously gifting two tries to the opposition from attempted in-goal passes before being pulled from the game by Maroons coach Wayne Bennett. If Queensland hadn’t have won, he may not have made out of Brisbane in one piece, such was the calamitous nature of his performance.

Fast-forward twelve years and Hodges is a very different man to the brash youngster who was humbled on the game’s grandest stage. A game that was once based on pure athleticism has developed into one considered the prototype for the modern-day centre. A penchant for flashy, risky all-or-nothing plays has evolved into a patient, intelligent mindset that can still produce moments of inexplicable brilliance where appropriate. And the brash cockiness that rubbed so many the wrong way in his younger days is now a relaxed confidence that makes him a player so many young footballers in Queensland look up to.

The one thing that has not changed from that 2002 debut is that Queensland go into Game Two of an Origin series 1-0 down and are counting on Hodges to produce the goods. This time around, he is immeasurably better-equipped to handle that pressure mentally – he certainly won’t be throwing any in-goal passes – but at 32 the question is whether he still has what it takes physically to compete at the highest level. Multiple injuries have taken their toll in recent years, including a snapped Achilles last year that threatened to end his storied career. Between them, Hodges and outside man Brent Tate have suffered enough serious injuries to fill a medical encyclopaedia, and they must extract every ounce of energy out of their ageing bodies if they are to contend with explosive Blues duo Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou.

On paper, it’s an advantageous matchup for the Blues, but the one thing paper can’t account for is smarts, and Hodges reads the game as well as any halfback in the game. With Broncos teammate Ben Hunt expected to fill the halfback role, Hodges can combine with a player he has proven chemistry with and open up the field for a Maroons side that was too dependant on attacking down the left in Game One. Hodges himself would probably admit that the 2002 version of himself wouldn’t have been up to the task, but everything he has accomplished in his career since that fateful night in Brisbane suggests he is capable of being a match-winner for the besieged Queenslanders this time around.