A week after calling the wrong club’s attacking plays at training, Trent Hodkinson has declared he’s ready to fill Manly’s cursed No.6 jersey.
The Sea Eagles’ five-eighth role took another turn for the worse in Saturday’s night’s upset win over Melbourne, with Dylan Walker sidelined for six weeks with a fractured eye socket after bearing the brunt of Curtis Scott’s fist.
Manly have already lost Lachlan Croker to a season-ending knee injury, while Jackson Hastings’ exile to reserve grade is well documented.
Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett had originally planned to blood Hodkinson off the bench for his first few games as he did against Melbourne on Saturday night.
But with Walker’s injury, that is set to change against Canberra on Friday and Hodkinson – who battled knee injuries at Newcastle last year – says he’s ready for it.
“I’ve been smashed off the field but it felt good last night,” Hodkinson said.
“It wasn’t too difficult (to fit into the halves). Baz made it quite clear and sat down with me before I went to the first training session.
“We went over everything and watched the first training session and got amongst it the next day.
“There was a couple of calls from pervious clubs getting tossed around so it took me a little bit. But it was fun.”
At his best, Hodkinson can add the kind of control Manly need alongside star halfback Daly Cherry-Evans after the pair once fought for the same jersey at the Sea Eagles in 2010.
A NSW State of Origin winner who also took Canterbury to the 2014 grand final, Hodkinson is renowned for being one of the calmest players in the game under pressure.
But the knee injuries have taken their toll – particularly in defence. He spent time in reserve grade at the Knights last year and was facing a similar year ahead of him at Cronulla before shifting to Manly.
However the 29-year-old quickly impressed teammates in Saturday’s win, after he came onto the field early in the second half before Tom Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans starred to help lay on three unanswered tries.
“He’s such a calm figure,” Trbojevic said.
“He’s played at all levels, played Origin and has been such a good player for so long.
“To come back in – and he hasn’t really played with anyone here before – to just slot in so well, it’s a credit to him. He’ll be great for us for the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile Manly are hoping to be bolstered by the return of Jorge Taufua on the wing for the clash with the Raiders.
His return will likely see Matt Wright or Moses Suli return to reserve grade, after having filled in during the injury crisis.
They do however face a question at dummy-half, with Apisai Koroisau facing a suspension and a Hastings recall seemingly unlikely.
