Justin Hodges
Justin Hodges is an Australian professional boxer and former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative, Hodges started his career in the National Rugby League with the Brisbane Broncos before moving to the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership, before returning to the Broncos in 2005, and winning the 2006 NRL Premiership. He also captained the Broncos.Early life
Hodges was born in Cairns, Queensland on born 25 May 1982. He grew up there and played his junior rugby league for Cairns Kangaroos Juniors, as U11 Premiers in 1992, through to undefeated U16's in 1998, before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.Playing career
2000
In round 14 of the 2000 NRL season, Hodges made his debut in the National Rugby League for the Brisbane Broncos on the against the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium. He played well, saving two tries in a losing 16-14 Broncos team. In round 16 against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park, Hodges scored his first NRL career try in the Broncos 16–12 loss. Hodges finished his debut year in the NRL having played in 5 matches and scored 2 tries for the 2000 Brisbane Broncos season.2001
Hodges was promoted to the full-time NRL team for the 2001 Brisbane Broncos season, however only played in 12 matches and scored 4 tries for the club. The Broncos failed to re-sign Hodges before 30 June anti-tampering date, which was to prevent clubs taking players from other clubs. Hodges then signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Roosters. Feeling betrayed by his defection, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett told Hodges that his services were no longer required and pushed him back to the Broncos' feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales.2002
Hodges signed with the Sydney Roosters for the 2002 NRL season. In round 1 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at SFS, Hodges made his club debut for the Sydney Roosters in the 40–6 win. In Round 4 against the Northern Eagles at Brookvale Oval, Hodges scored his first and second club tries for the Roosters in the 28–22 loss. During the 2002 season, Hodges made headlines for all the wrong reasons, which included a disastrous State of Origin debut where he threw two in goal passes which turned into tries for the opposing team even though Queensland won 26-18 He was also punched by Brisbane Broncos player Casey McGuire in the Roosters 16-12 preliminary final win at SFS. On 6 October 2002, Hodges played at centre in the Sydney Roosters 2002 NRL Grand Final 30–8 victory against the New Zealand Warriors. Hodges played in 26 matches and scored 11 tries for the 2002 Sydney Roosters season.2003
Having won the 2002 NRL Premiership, the Roosters travelled to England to play the 2003 World Club Challenge against Super League champions, St Helens R.F.C. Hodges played at centre in the Roosters 38–0 victory. In Game 1 of the 2003 State of Origin series, Hodges suffered a serious knee injury, damaging the cruciate ligament in his left knee early in the second half of the match in Queensland's 25–12 loss. The game was played at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and Hodges considered legal action against the stadium for the poor state of the playing surface. However, he decided not to take legal action against the stadium. Hodges played in 11 matches and scored 8 tries for the Roosters in the 2003 NRL season.2004
In early 2004, Hodges broke up with his long-time girlfriend and was given two weeks sympathy leave from the Sydney Roosters. Hodges caused further disruption to the Roosters when he missed a training session and club functions to spend time with his friends and family. After Hodges played in Game 1 of the 2004 State of Origin series in the Maroons 9–8 loss at ANZ Stadium, Roosters coach Ricky Stuart put Hodges into the lower grade premier league. Hodges however, made it back into the first grade Roosters team in round 12, scoring a hat-trick against the New Zealand Warriors in the Roosters 58–6 win at ANZ Stadium. In the following week in round 13, Hodges was sent off for a high shot on Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs player and Queensland teammate Steve Price in the Roosters 40–12 loss at ANZ Stadium. Hodges was subsequently suspended for 6 weeks. In mid 2004, Hodges went to Brisbane to talk to Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to seek a return to the Broncos. This was approved by Roosters boss Brian Canavan, but Roosters coach Stuart did not know that Hodges wanted a release from the club. After several off-field incidents, Hodges was expected to leave the Roosters mid-season and go to the Broncos, but the Broncos did not want this. On 4 October 2004, Hodges played for the Roosters at centre in their 2004 NRL Grand Final 16–13 loss against cross-Sydney rivals, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Hodges played in 21 matches and scored 7 tries in his last year with the Sydney Roosters.2005
After the feud between coach Bennett and Hodges earlier in 2001, some critics felt that Hodges would not be able to fit well into the Broncos team. But during an off season camp, Hodges and Bennett sorted things out and all Hodges wanted to do was play rugby league. Hodges stated that he did not regret going to Sydney, but felt it was time to go home back to Brisbane. Former Brisbane Broncos captain Gorden Tallis backed Hodges return to the Broncos, despite some fans questioning the merits in which Hodges returned. Hodges's return caused a problem for the Broncos. They now had three centres, while only two could play in that position. Hodges, Shaun Berrigan and Brent Tate were left to contend for the two centre positions. For the early rounds of 2005, Hodges was forced to play on the wing, with Tate and Berrigan in the centres. Hodges had his Broncos return match in round 1 against the North Queensland Cowboys on the wing in the Broncos 29–16 win at Suncorp Stadium. In round 3 against his former club the Sydney Roosters at SFS, Hodges scored his first try as a Bronco again in the 40–22 win. In Round 7 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, Brent Tate suffered a shoulder injury allowing Hodges to play in his preferred position of centre in the Broncos' 16–12 win. In Round 24 against the Penrith Panthers, Hodges suffered ligament damage in his right knee during the Broncos 22–20 loss at Penrith Stadium. Hodges later returned for the Broncos in their last match against the Wests Tigers at SFS in the Broncos 34-6 semi-finals loss. The Broncos were knocked out of the finals, after losing seven straight matches. Hodges played in 19 matches and scored 11 tries his return year with the Broncos in the 2005 NRL season.2006
In 2006, Hodges started the season playing in the centre position and continued to play there for the first 10 rounds of the competition. However injury plagued him over the next 10 rounds, only playing one game for the Broncos in those rounds. Despite this, Hodges was selected to play for Queensland in the first two games of their 2006 State of Origin series win, the first of what would become a record consecutive run. In the second game he intercepted a NSW pass and ran 85 metres to score a try in the 30–6 win at Suncorp Stadium. However, injury sidelined him for over 3 weeks including the 3rd State of Origin match, before he made his return against the North Queensland Cowboys, a game that the Broncos lost 26–10 at 1300SMILES Stadium. The Broncos form continued to slide, until coach Wayne Bennett moved Hodges from the centres to, in place of injured teammate Karmichael Hunt. The team cast off their slump and made it into the 2006 NRL Grand Final, Hodges' third in five seasons. Facing minor premiers Melbourne Storm, Hodges was selected to play at fullback. In the 20th minute, off the back of a skilful Darren Lockyer inside pass, Hodges scored a try and Brisbane went on to win the grand final 15–8. Hodges played in 20 matches, scored 10 tries and kicked a goal for the Broncos in the 2006 NRL season. At the end of 2006, Hodges went on to play for Australia in the 2006 Tri-Nations Series. Hodges making his Australia national debut against New Zealand at centre in the Kangaroos 30–18 win at Mt Smart Stadium. In the Kangaroos 33–10 victory over Great Britain, Hodges scored his international try at Suncorp Stadium. Hodges played at centre in the last match against New Zealand in which Australia won 16–12 in golden point extra time at SFS.2007
Due to the Broncos winning the grand final, Hodges, along with the rest of the team, travelled to England to play the 2007 World Club Challenge. Hodges played in the centres for the trial match against the Crusaders, which they won 32–6. Hodges scored an intercept try just before halftime, in the trial match. In the World Club Challenge against St Helens RLFC, the Broncos lost the match 18–14. With Karmichael Hunt playing in the halves, Hodges was moved to fullback for the first two rounds of the 2007 season. When Hunt was showing poor form in the halves he was moved back to fullback, and Hodges moved back into the centres for Round 3, in that round against the Penrith Panthers, Hodges equalled the Broncos club record of scoring four tries in a match in the Broncos 29-28 golden point extra time loss at Suncorp Stadium. Hodges was selected for the 2007 ANZAC Test against New Zealand at centre in the Kangaroos 30–6 win at Suncorp Stadium. Hodges played in all three games for Queensland in the 2007 State of Origin series. Hodges scored one try in the third game in the 18–4 loss at Suncorp Stadium even though Queensland won the series 2–1. Despite being sidelined for several weeks due to a knee injury, Hodges finished the season as the Broncos top try-scorer with 12 tries in 19 matches and was Dally M Centre of the Year.2008
Hodges was selected for Australia in the 2008 ANZAC Test match against New Zealand at centre in the Kangaroos 28–12 win at SCG. Hodges played in Game 1 of the 2008 State of Origin series in the Maroons 18–10 loss at ANZ Stadium. Queensland later won the series 2–1. In August 2008, Hodges was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 World Cup. In Round 21 against the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium, Hodges copped a 2-week suspension for giving referee Tony Archer a "up yours" gesture behind his back after he was penalised for a strip on Raiders winger Colin Best in the Broncos 34–6 win. In round 26 against the Newcastle Knights, Hodges showed his true toughness in the Broncos 24–2 win at Suncorp Stadium by taking to the field with severe eye infection and an undisclosed illness. Hodges finished the 2008 NRL season with him playing in 14 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Broncos. On 7 October 2008, Hodges was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad. On 14 October 2008, Hodges was ruled out of the World Cup after finding he needed shoulder surgery, facing up to six months recovery.