Origin hopeful Josh Jackson says the scrutiny on Canterbury teammate Trent Hodkinson has been unwarranted and he deserves to retain the NSW No.7 jumper.
Blues coach Laurie Daley has yet to lock in a halves combination for the May 27 Origin series opener with Canterbury duo Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds struggling to fend off the Sydney Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney.
The battle between the two halves pairings will come down to Friday night’s NRL blockbuster when the Bulldogs host the Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
Reynolds has had a poor start to the year and has been hampered by an arm injury as well as two suspensions; for a dangerous throw and a trip.
However Jackson said Hodkinson had been doing his job at club level and after helping NSW regain the Origin shield last year, deserved another crack at the job.
“I think Hodko, he’s been there for the whole season and he’s been really great for us,” he said.
“I think the media scrutiny on him has been unwarranted. We’re happy with the job he’s doing there.”
Jackson is also in the frame for a NSW call up after making his Australian debut last year.
The Bulldogs workhorse was hesitant to comment on his chances – given Daley’s glut of quality second rowers – but has the door slightly ajar with Greg Bird’s suspension and Paul Gallen under an injury cloud.
“There’s a lot of players, in the back row especially, who have been doing a good job for a number of years,” he said.
“I’m not expecting anything there … As a kid, that’s what you dream of, first of all playing first grade and then playing Origin.
“You watch some of the greats of the game play Origin so it’d be great to get a start there. But there’s a big line before that.”
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