Parramatta are taking a gamble on signing Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson to replace Reed Mahoney in 2023 as the English veteran will be 33 by the time he suits up in a game for the Eels 15 months from now.
They have formally announced Hodgson’s signing on a two-year contract and also added Canberra utility back Bailey Simonsson, who will make the switch immediately on a three-season deal.
The Eels needed to bolster their dummy-half stocks after fringe Maroons representative Reed Mahoney recently inked a lucrative deal with Canterbury for 2023.
Hodgson is a fine player who has had a stellar career in the Super League, the NRL and the Test arena but not everyone is Cameron Smith and can maintain elite form deep into their 30s.
He has been durable for most of his career, playing 20 games last season, but he did miss plenty of time prior to that due to a couple of serious leg injuries, managing only a combined 44 games the previous three years.
Hodgson has a lot of miles on those legs from more than 270 games in England and Australia plus another 23 Tests – hopefully, the Eels get value for money but history tells us the decline can be swift when players are in their mid 30s.
Eels general manager Mark O’Neill is confident Hodgson will bring “strong leadership and a wealth of experience in such a key position”.
“Josh has played for his country and has an incredible knowledge of the game which will add value to not only the NRL squad but our emerging juniors within our elite pathways,” he said in a club statement issued on Friday.
“I have no doubt that he will have a big impact at our club both on and off the field.”
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
With Storm star Brandon Smith all but certain to link with the Roosters in 2023, there will be plenty of movement among hookers in the NRL.
Roosters premiership-winning No.9 Sam Verrills had been floated as a possible option for the Eels – he is under contract until the end of 2024 and there has been no indication yet that he will look elsewhere if Smith heads to Bondi Junction, as expected.
The 22-year-old, who scored a try in the 2019 grand final, has shown over the course of 33 NRL games, interrupted by an ACL tear, that he is a starting-level hooker and will attract plenty of interest if he seeks a release because of Smith’s arrival.
Wests Tigers duo Jacob Liddle and Jake Simpkin would also have to get a release to be free agents in 2023 but with the club bringing in Panthers hooker Api Koroisau, they could also be potential signings targets.
They’re both in the early stages of their career and yet to prove they can consistently fill a starting hooker role at NRL level but could develop into top-line talents.
The hooker who should be in great demand for 2023 is Brisbane’s Jake Turpin. He’s held the under-performing Broncos together many times the past couple of years and would thrive in a finals-contending team.
With the Dolphins expansion side coming into the competition a hop, skip and a jump away in Redcliffe, it would be a surprise if Brisbane don’t try to re-sign him sooner rather than later.
Alex Harrison
Guest
It’s ok mate, most of us Parra supporters aren’t surprised either.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not just that. Who’s on the market for a couple of hundred less a season that you can replace them with?
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Who's on the market that you can replace Gutho or Junior with? Not to many, they got Hodgson for Mahoney and kept Gutho and Junior, very well summed up :thumbup:
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah making out like they have chosen Hodgson over Mahoney is probably wrong because you aren’t paying the same money. It’s probably more like they chose Hodgson, Paulo and Gutherson over something like Mahoney, Gutherson and replacing Paulo with somebody like Napa, Woods or another prop worth a bit less.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
At that money he’s not a silly signing. If he works out as your best 9 great. If not, you don’t have huge money tied up in a guy who ends up in jersey 14.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Probably why Cam Smith aged so well. Never had any pace to lose!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Have they really though? If they’re paying similar money to get Hodgson to what they could have got Mahoney for then sure, they’re mad. But if they’ve got Hodgson for a decent saving and that saves money to put a better team around him they aren’t exactly a lot worse off. The Bulldogs haven’t signed Mahoney for 10 years and they’d have to fight to re-sign him in a few years if they kept him.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Hey EM, that's a bit simplistic. You've got three key players the Eels wanted to keep, all off contract at the same time, all wanting an upgrade and all with the same agent (that's arguably the Eels biggest mistake!). So the agent knows the club's hand and how much they've got in their kitty. The Eels are still managing their way out of a salary cap mess. And as valuable as Mahoney is, it's pretty clear that Gutho and Paulo are their priority. Mahoney was being chased hard by Bulldogs, and it doesn't take too much imagination to expect they would have kept the auction going well beyond the 650k they got him for. It's a bummer, but the only responsible thing for the Eels to do was stick to their budget. Whether you agree that Gutho and Paulo were the right priorities is another question. So, given the Eels are in a situation where they need a hooker for 23, signing a versatile old head available at a pretty good discount (400k) gets them covered and allows them to shop around at their leisure - or bring someone up. And, as I posted earlier in this thread, even in his comparatively ordinary 21 season, Hodgson's stats weren't that far off Mahoney's, and in some cases were better.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Yeah, you would expect so. And I just had a glance at his 21 season stats on Fox Spurts... even in a season many are describing as a failure, Hodgson's stats aren't that far off Mahoney's - a couple of line breaks, a couple of tries and a couple of assists less - and actually more run metres, tackles and tackle breaks.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Let’s call it for what it is - a garbage signing. We had a hooker but let him go. This signing is exactly something that the Tigers or St George would usually come up with.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
If the management at Parramatta had acted earlier this situation wouldn't be happening . Guys like Paulo can now add a little bit on cause he knows he can get it at Dolphins . Same deal with Matterson but I have a feeling he's getting off side with every club he goes to to .
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Given Tom Starling s only one step away from playing with Clive Palmers Southport Tigers its the Raiders taking the gamble.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Short. I’d be thinking he would also be playing ‘full in’, not 80 minutes, come in as a fresh legged (yes older fresh legs) impact player.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
if the age weren't a big enough worry - the dodgy knees should be
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Reports are he's on $400k. At that money he's a very handy buy, and leaves the Eels in the market to also pick up Verrills - who they are still chasing - and play them in combo. Also, to be fair to Hodgson, it is possible that his tendency to overplay his hand in 21 season was due to Raiders having one half spit the dummy and want away, and the other simply not contributing anything, and a fullback who, while a terrific ball runner, adds zero ball playing. At Parra, Hodgson is not going to have that problem. His job will be a heck of a lot simpler - distribute the ball to the right ball player (spoilt for choice with Moses, Gutho, Brown, Brown and Matterson) make your tackles and help keep the team sticking to the game plan. And if, as is likely, they also pick up Verrills - or even Liddle or Simpkin - they have a zippy creative dummy half to mix it up. I think they are going to be just fine.
Dionysus
Guest
Who shut that window ?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
He'll be playing alongside some pretty good 'uns in '23.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Even if Hodgson stays on the field he's not the player he once was and was regularly outplayed by Starling. In a couple of years they are back where they are now. If they get him early it might be an ok buy to mentor a young hooker coming through but not getting him until 2023 has disaster written all over it
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
No disrespect to the supporters, but nothing Parra does surprises me anymore.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The situation at Wests with Liddle/Simkin and Korisau reflects badly on Wests management . They have shown little faith in the young guys by chasing Hodgson and signing Korisau . Wether it's Sheen's/ Farah or McGuire behind this it shows some clubs these days are not promoting or encouraging young guys and paying overs for guys not wanted at other clubs.