Brett Hodgson
Hodgson with the Wests Tigers in 2005
Personal information
Full name	Brett Hodgson
Nickname	Hodgo, Captain Courageous
Born	12 February 1978 (1978-02-12) (age 31)
	Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	76 kg (12 st 0 lb)
Playing information
Position	Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1997–1999	Western Suburbs	49	18	37	1	147
2000–2003	Parramatta Eels	73	36	106	0	356
2004–2008	Wests Tigers	102	38	317	0	786
2009–	Huddersfield Giants	21	10	78	0	196
	Total	245	102	538	1	1485
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2001–2008	City Origin	5	0	4	0	8
2002–2006	New South Wales	6	1	5	0	14
As of 08:29, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
Source: NRL Stats & RLP

Brett Hodgson (born 12 February 1978 in Liverpool, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league player currently contracted to the Huddersfield Giants in the European Super League. He has played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League competition. Hodgson plays at fullback and has represented at state level for New South Wales Origin.

In 2008, Hodgson became the last remaining pre-2000 Western Suburbs Magpies' footballer playing in the NRL,^[1] before John Skandalis returned to the competition in 2009.

[edit] Playing career

An Eagle Vale (Campbelltown) junior, Hodgson was graded to the Western Suburbs Magpies. He made his first-grade debut under coach Tommy Raudonikis in round 11, 1997, when Wests met South Queensland at Campbelltown Stadium.^[2]

In 1999, Hodgson turned down a position with the new Wests and Balmain Tigers joint venture club, Wests Tigers, and, to obtain a fullback position, he signed with Parramatta for the 2000 season.^[3][4] Hodgson's 2000 season was cut short following a high tackle from Cronulla's Mitch Healey, breaking his jaw.^[5]

The 2001 season was a successful one for Hodgson and Parramatta. Hodgson was selected for City Origin and the club made it to the grand final.^[6] Described as a "lethal, attacking full-back", Hodgson scored two tries in Parramatta's loss to Newcastle in the 2001 grand final.^[3] In 2003, Hodgson's final year at Parramatta was cut short in round 16 with a rib injury.

Hodgson returned to Campbelltown when he signed with Wests Tigers in 2004. Hodgson's successful 2005 season resulted in the Dally M Fullback of the Year and the NRL competition's leading pointscorer with 308 points.^[7]

On 23 July, 2006, midway through the first half of the clash between Wests Tigers and his former club, Parramatta Eels, Hodgson sustained medial and cruciate ligament injuries and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

In Round 12, 2007, Hodgson fractured his cheekbone in the match against Parramatta. After surgery to repair the fracture, Hodgson was sidelined for seven rounds and returned in Round 20 for his 200th first-grade game, a resounding win against the North Queensland Cowboys.^[8]

Salary cap restraints at the Wests Tigers forced Hodgson to look elsewhere for a contract for the 2009 season.^[9] He played his last game for the Wests Tigers on 7 September 2008 and although the club failed to make the top eight, they did send Hodgson out with a win against the Gold Coast Titans, 28–12. Hodgson was named Man of the Match.^[10] At the club's end of season awards, Hodgson was voted the Members' Player of the Year for 2008.^[11]

Hodgson signed a two year deal to play in the UK for the Huddersfield Giants from 2009.^[9] In February, 2009, Hodgson was named team captain, replacing Chris Thorman.^[12]

Hodgson playing for the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, 29 June 2008

Hodgson was awarded with the Super League's 'Man of Steel' Award after his first season with the Huddersfield Giants, becoming only the fourth Australian to win the prestigious award since it was introduced in 1977.[1]

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd. pp. s 241–242. ISBN 9781877082931. 
• Malcolm Andrews (2006). ABC of Rugby League. Sydney, New South Wales: ABC Books. p. 716. ISBN 9780733319464. 

[edit] External links

• Brett Hodgson at NRL.com
• Brett Hodgson at the State of Origin official website.