He might have pulled on the All Blacks jersey to take on the Wallabies four years ago, but Queensland Reds recruit Alex Hodgman says he is open to a switch of allegiances under compatriot Joe Schmidt’s Australian revolution.
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t see why not,” Hodgman told The Roar during a Thursday press conference.
“I’m always trying to challenge myself. I’m always trying to become a better version of myself, and if there happens to come my way, then I’ll take it.”
Former All Blacks prop Alex Hodgman made his debut against the Wallabies in 2020. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
But just because Hodgman has played for the All Blacks doesn’t mean he’s expecting to be called up by new Wallabies coach Schmidt anytime soon.
Off the back of shoulder surgery, Hodgman just wants to get back to playing regularly and ensuring he plays his part in helping the Reds make the leap from pretenders to contenders.
At the same time, Hodgman says he’s learned the hard way that higher honours tend to come when you don’t put the cart before the horse.
“I experienced this before with the All Blacks when I was trying too hard to try become an All Black, I started doing things that were out of character,” he said.
“What I want to do is just be a great Reds man and then, from there, whatever opportunities come my way, I’ll take.
“But, at the moment, it’s like how can I get on the field? How can I compete with the guys around me? And how can I put my best foot forward here? Whatever comes from that, comes from that.”
Hodgman qualifies for the Wallabies through his Melbourne-born father and ended up secretly hoping the Reds chased him last year to make it a family affair in Queensland with his brother already living in the Sunshine State.
As fate would happen, new Reds coach Les Kiss, together with general manager Sam Cordingley, went after Hodgman and fellow former All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen to help ease the loss of Wallabies star Taniela Tupou.
“I’m truly blessed,” Hodgman said.
“I think it all tied in with my brother being here and mum and dad wanting to move over. Things have just fallen into place, and now I’ve just got to play my part.”
Alex Hodgman says he’s open to playing for the Wallabies after making the switch to the Queensland Reds. Photo: Queensland Rugby
Not everyone has been pleased by the arrival of two former All Blacks props at one of Australia’s biggest franchises.
Hodgman accepts that ideally the Australian franchises would have the depth to cover positions, but nor does he think that the sides on this side of the ditch are walkovers either.
“I think ideally, you’d want to grow the game here first,” he said.
“There’s a lot of talent. What’s awesome is we’re getting the academy guys from the Reds and they’re actually joining our training sessions, and there’s a lot of potential here.
“Ideally, you’d want to look at your home first. But I don’t understand why people always say, ‘New Zealand teams are this and that’. When you verse Aussie teams, it’s going to be tough, and it’s always tough. Even though sometimes the scoreboard doesn’t dictate it, the battles you have with the Aussies teams, they’re tough.”
Alex Hodgman tackles Marika Koroibete at Eden Park on October 18, 2020 in Auckland. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
The affable prop has landed on his feet since landing at Ballymore.
But that’s not necessarily helped him acclimatise to the sticky conditions in Brisbane.
“I’m sweating right now. It doesn’t look like it, but underneath I’m very sweaty,” he quipped.
“But it’s cool because it adds another mental barrier that I haven’t had, or experienced, in New Zealand.
“In NZ you just train, you train hard. But here, it’s a different mental toughness because your lungs are burning constantly, so it’s been a good challenge.”
What Hodgman has particularly liked during his first pre-season with the Reds has been the emphasis on rugby under Kiss.
“Any pre-season is hard, it doesn’t matter where you go,” he said. “They always have targets they want to hit or get you to this sort of level, but what I’ve really enjoyed about Les and the staff is they’ve really taken the keys to rugby and rugby’s been the real focus and primary goal.
“Rather than just hit the field and go, we’ve had a real fine balance. I think that’s helped us a lot as a group bond and connect and find the little kinks and figure them out.”
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Yeah, not so sure let’s wait and see :rugby: :boxing:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Gkl, Australia will never be able to impose on OUR culture of the land & it's people, as that is something that is a massive part of our belief & respect, in doing the Haka.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Nice, good chance to reset & all the best Hodgman. Now can we please also get back Ainsley, Tyrell and Tamaiti :laughing:
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He’s not as good as either of the blokes you mentioned and doesn’t play the same position
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but not even a cycle as that implies some kind of "just wait it out" dynamic. I reckon it is more of a descent for rugby and other sports. Across society we are becoming more concentrated and narrow in opinion and interest, and I'm presuming that social media and other technologies which purport to measure interest or attention are part of the cause. My favourite characterization of the current circumstance is "weaponized ignorance" which is evident in politics and the rise of populist politicians with simple but wrong solutions to complex problems, entertainment with endless MCU sequels, each more terrible than the last, music with auto-tune banalities, and now sports. And now AI is standing by to hyper-accelerate the race to the bottom. Sigh.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He is eligible now I believe Skippy. He has an Aussie Dad I think which bypasses the resident clauses so thats then a case of 3 year standdown from the ABs and thats well and truly done.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
What with Bobby? Sorry couldnt resist... :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: I think he will be a good buy for the Reds. A good honest worker on the field.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Very interesting article in yesterday’s Times here about the Premier League (soccer) was cannabalising all other sport. How 3 big papers don’t journos covering cricket, Rl, athletics, swimming as front, middle and back sections are full of football. Rugby could go the same way in Oz. And it’s a vicious cycle - no press coverage equals no sponsors equals no interest and no players. These sports are dying and the moment to resuscitate, if that option remains, is now https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dca439a5-0918-46ab-92b4-fce97f0be51c?shareToken=c7ddb313da4b319b0c4e59665778e501
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Exactly. We all know there are flaws in the pathways, and that these will take years to fix. At the the same time, the Wallabies and the SR teams are the primary sources of all external funding into the game. If they continue on current trajectory, and fail against the Lions and in the next RWC, we will see rugby in Australia sink to the same profile as lacrosse. All the talent will sign for the mungos, AFL, or (gasp) soccer. So RA have to address the top with pragmatic solutions that probably will involve non-local talent, either coaching or playing. EJ was not a pragmatic choice, that was a "bet it all on red 16" choice. It's too early to say, RA seems to have some adults back in control. Schmidt is a good appointment as in my opinion, no local coach is ready to lead Wallabies. In the mid-long term, hopefully the pathways will develop stronger local players and coaches. Which is the greater sin: continually losing, or having a few players not born in Australia but willing and able to play for the Wallabies? I reckon first and foremost fans just want some wins so we can look at ourselves in the mirror, and stop wasting all our time banging on the pages of the Roar with all our coulda, shoulda, woulda opinions. A winning culture will quiet lots of that noise.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Need to be a full time resident for 5 years. An extended holiday can result in the 5 years starting again.
Highlander
Roar Guru
He’s a loosehead
Peta Smith
Roar Rookie
Ireland too…
RD
Roar Rookie
Should Hodgman change his allegiance to the WBs it would see the end of Alaalatoa and it will confine Tupou to a bench role. Hodgman would be a good addition to a position where the WBs are extremely thin in depth. Smart recruiting strategy by Kiss
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Kiwis and Poms have been playing league over here for years, the competition is not worse because of it, anything but. These guys lift standards, they're not stealing positions you need to be better than them. The Reds need more quality players. It's great these blokes have moved over. Australia is the country it is because of immigration.
savant
Roar Rookie
We already have one https://youtu.be/hVlGDa5mx28?si=D3ehCJABB_asHI3o
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Zander has signed with LA in Major League Rugby
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
He’s eligible and if performs well then add him to selection
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
The Reds, actually most of the Australian SR sides, showed clearly they lacked front 5 power last year and before. Filling immediate gaps with motivated foreigners is fine if there is a plan to bring through local talent long term. Look at France. Strong foreign players improve the quality of their teams and, over the long term, the locals benefit by learning their trade with quality imports. Now the French team has arguably more depth than any other. Screaming to use locals whilst at the same time bemoaning our underperforming doesn’t fly. If we need to perform now, and we do, some pragmatism is required when plugging holes in rosters. Kiss saw an obvious gap, made more important by Tupou leaving, and filled it. Good on him
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Yeah this is the solution. Follow Scotlands lead and make Kiwis wallabies. Forget coaches, leaguies or even the grassroots, this is the only credible solution. Turn fringe ABs to wallabies.
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
Sorry when would he be eligible? And secondly, where is Dane Zander? Always thought he had potential and hope he went to Europe and cones back in 2-3 a better player.