After finally breaking through for State of Origin glory, NSW say rookie halves Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds can form a successful long-term Blues combination.
The Canterbury pair steered the Blues to interstate glory for the first time in nine years at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night, with Hodkinson crossing for the match-equalling try in the 72nd before kicking the match-winning conversion.
Blues coach Laurie Daley opted for the Dogs duo after Mitchell Pearce’s late night shenanigans, and it paid big dividends.
After NSW’s 6-4 win to wrap up the series following their 12-8 game two win, veteran Blues back-rower Ryan Hoffman said Hodkinson and Reynolds could form NSW’s scrumbase combination for years to come.
“Right from the start I had all the confidence in Trent,” he said.
“Quite a few people especially north of the border made some derogatory comments about our halves pairing and that cut quite hard but for a young kid to play the way he did, his vision, he hit me on (Daly) Cherry-Evans all night.
“And then when the moment came he had to come up with the big play and he did and that is the sign of a good halfback.
“Josh and Hokko (Hodkinson) complement each other really well. Hokko is really composed and straight down the line and plays great structure, whereas Joshy Reynolds has that competitive streak and he has to be everywhere all the time.”
Anthony Watmough also showered the pair with praise.
“Those two were great for us, they showed they can cut it at this level,” Watmough said.
“There is every reason they can keep doing that.
“That was a huge play from Hokko (Hodkinson). I guess they didn’t see him as a ball runner and he just threw that dummy and went through and I said to him early in the week `we just need you to take charge’, and he did.”
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