Brett Hodgson

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Brett Hodgson
fullname = Brett Hodgson
nickname = Hodgo, Captain Courageous

---

caption =
country =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|2|12|df=yes
placeofbirth = Liverpool, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|76|kg|stlb|abbr=on
position = rlp|FB
club1 = leagueicon|Western Suburbs|16 Western Suburbs
year1start = 1997
year1end = 1999
appearances1 = 49
tries1 = 18
goals1 = 37
fieldgoals1 = 1
points1 = 147
club2 = leagueicon|Parramatta|16 Parramatta Eels
year2start = 2000
year2end = 2003
appearances2 = 73
tries2 = 36
goals2 = 106
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 356
club3 = leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16 Wests Tigers
year3start = 2004
year3end = 2008
appearances3 = 102
tries3 = 38
goals3 = 317
fieldgoals3 = 0
points3 = 786
teamA = leagueicon|City|16 City Origin
yearAstart = 2001
yearAend = present
appearancesA = 5
triesA = 0
goalsA = 4
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 8
teamB = leagueicon|New South Wales|16 New South Wales
yearBstart = 2002
yearBend = 2006
appearancesB = 6
triesB = 1
goalsB = 5
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 14
updated = 08:29, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=191 NRL Stats] & [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Brett_Hodgson.html RLP]

Brett Hodgson (born 12 February 1978 in Liverpool, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league player currently contracted to the Wests Tigers in the NRL.cite web|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/player_profiles.aspx|title=NRL Players|publisher=Wests Tigers|accessdate=2008-10-06] 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.

He will join the Huddersfield Giants in the European Super League from the 2009 season.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/huddersfield/7414428.stm|title=Thorman's future is safe - Sharp|publisher=BBC|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-10-06] cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-05]

In 2008, Hodgson was the last remaining pre-2000 Western Suburbs Magpies' footballer still playing in the NRL. [cite news|author=Ray Chesterton|publisher="The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)"|title=The night they turned it on for Tommy Raudonikis |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24021568-5001023,00.html |accessdate=2008-10-06|date=2008-07-15]

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. [cite news|author=Nick Walshaw|publisher="Courier Mail"|title=Last Magpie Brett Hodgson flies the coop |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,24013052-5003409,00.html |accessdate=2008-10-06|date=2008-07-14]

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.cite book|author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson|title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players|year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd"|location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales|isbn=9781877082931|pages=page 242] [cite news|Format=fee required|publisher="AAP Sports News (Australia)"|title=Not many Wests players in new venture |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22844112.html |accessdate=2008-10-06|date=1999-08-17] Hodgson's 2000 season was cut short following a high tackle from Cronulla's Mitch Healey, breaking his jaw. [cite news|Format=fee required|publisher="AAP Sports News (Australia)"|title=Hodgson out for season with fractured jaw |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-30322993.html |accessdate=2008-10-06|date=2000-07-31]

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. [cite news|Format=fee required|publisher="AAP Sports News (Australia)"|title=City team to play Country |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-44983216.html |accessdate=2008-10-06|date=2001-06-03] Described as a "lethal, attacking full-back", Hodgson scored two tries in Parramatta's loss to Newcastle in the 2001 grand final.cite book|author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson|title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players|year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd"|location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales|isbn=9781877082931|pages=page 242] 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.cite book | author=Malcolm Andrews |title=ABC of Rugby League |year=2006
publisher="ABC Books" |location=Sydney, New South Wales
isbn=9780733319464 |pages=page 716]

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. [cite news|publisher="AAP News (Australia)"|title=Tigers captain Hodgson to miss at least eight weeks|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-140246088.html|accessdate=2007-07-07|date=2006-06-07]

Salary cap restraints at the Wests Tigers forced Hodgson to look elsewhere for a contract for the 2009 season.cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3568686,00.html|title=Giants move for Hodgson|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-05-15|accessdate=2008-05-15] 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". [cite news|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=Tigers end season on a high |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24307771-23214,00.html |accessdate=2008-09-07|date=2008-09-07] At the club's end of season awards, Hodgson was voted the "Members' Player of the Year" for 2008. [cite news|publisher="The Age"|title=Heighington wins Tigers '08 player award |url=http://news.theage.com.au/sport/heighington-wins-tigers-08-player-award-20081003-4tcx.html |accessdate=2008-10-06|date=2008-10-03]

Hodgson signed a two year deal to play in the UK for the Huddersfield Giants commencing in 2009.cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3568686,00.html|title=Giants move for Hodgson|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-05-15|accessdate=2008-05-15]

References

ources

* cite book|author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson|title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players|year=2007
publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd"|location=Wetherill Park, New South Wales|isbn=9781877082931|pages=pgs 241-242
* cite book | author=Malcolm Andrews |title=ABC of Rugby League |year=2006
publisher="ABC Books" |location=Sydney, New South Wales
isbn=9780733319464 |pages=page 716

External links

* [http://www.weststigers.com.au/player_profiles.aspx Brett Hodgson at "Wests Tigers"]
* [http://www.nrl.com.au/Players/tabid/10390/default.aspx?playerid=63 Brett Hodgson at "NRL.com"]
*StateofOrigin player|162