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Loyalty won’t mean much at the NSW selection table, incumbent Blues halfback Trent Hodkinson concedes.
Bulldogs playmaker Hodkinson reckons he has no idea whether he deserves a NSW spot ahead of the State of Origin opener in Sydney on May 27.
But after being reunited with Josh Reynolds, Hodkinson says the Bulldogs halves hope to convince Blues coach Laurie Daley by outpointing their Sydney Roosters rivals in Friday night’s NRL clash.
The stage is perfectly set for a Blues halves audition after Reynolds returned from suspension for tripping to line up with fellow NSW incumbent Hodkinson against the men most likely to replace them in a Blues jumper – James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce.
The Bulldogs are also buzzing from the return of prop James Graham from his five game ban and Greg Eastwood (concussion).
Asked if he thought he deserved to keep his NSW spot, Hodkinson said: “I don’t know.
“That’s a tough question. I haven’t been happy with my form.
“I just need to have a big game this weekend.”
Asked if being a NSW incumbent would get him over the line at the Blues selection table, Hodkinson said: “Not necessarily.
“You’ve got to be going in with a bit of form.
“But we’ve timed it well (the battle of halves).”
Hodkinson said he would “definitely” prefer to be paired with Reynolds by Daley but offered some timely advice for his at times hot headed halves partner ahead of their unofficial NSW selection trial.
“He needs to go back to basics, that’s when he plays his best,” he said.
“He has probably been trying a bit too hard.
“He was a little bit down, frustrated (after tripping ban from City-Country clash).
“But he has bounced back well and is bubbling around the place like he always is.”
Meanwhile, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has wielded the axe in the wake of last round’s belting from Melbourne, cutting halfback Chris Sandow, Joseph Paulo and David Gower.
Luke Kelly slots in for Sandow while Tepai Moeroa is back in the backrow with Pauli Pauli on the bench.
“The coach has had a good talk with them (Sandow, Paulo) and given them what they need to work on – I am sure they will both bounce back,” Eels assistant Peter Gentle said.
On Saturday they host a Warriors outfit with Dominique Peyroux in the centres and Sione Lousi on the bench in a reshuffle caused by Konrad Hurrell’s three-match ban for lifting his knee in a tackle.
Meanwhile, John Sutton returns as five-eighth after South Sydney lost Adam Reynolds for 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb suffered in last round’s win over St George Illawarra.
Chris Grevsmuhl comes back into the starting back-row and Nathan Brown comes on to the bench.
Hooker Issac Luke, who will link with the Warriors next year, also remains on the bench after coach Michael Maguire curiously dumped the New Zealand rake for the win over St George.
At Manly, centre Steve Matai returns from suspension, shifting Peta Siku to wing and David Williams out of the side for Sunday night’s clash with a Penrith side welcoming back hooker James Segeyaro (elbow).
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