HOOKING INTO 2017

HODGES FIGHTS BACK FOR SHOT AT NRL

UNWANTED hooker Jayden Hodges is keeping the faith he will find a place in the 2017 NRL landscape despite his cruel departure from the Manly Sea Eagles.

The 23-year-old Kangaroos junior never had a chance to impress for a new deal after an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 2016 Auckland Nines.

But he has thrown himself at the challenge of being the first in line for an opening in any NRL roster for next season.

Hodges said he had plenty of time to “build a bridge” after Manly cut him but a focus on making sure his knee was back at full fitness cost him a chance to get back on the field and show rivals clubs he still had the X- factor needed to break into an NRL franchise’s top 17.

Now back in Cairns, he has yet to put up the white flag, linking with his former A-grade coach David Westley to “keep the legs ticking over” to an NRL standard.

“I was preparing for the biggest year in my career so far and I was really hoping for a big season but things can change just like that, it can all be taken away but in saying that that’s something I couldn’t control,” Hodges said. “The thing I could control was how I approached my rehab and my work ethic and the approach to my training so that what I’ve done so far and I’m just going to keep working on that, keep working hard, even throughout the break because I know the boys have been working hard.

“I know the level of pre-season, the level of intensity at training so I’m just trying to mimic that set targets here and just keep ticking boxes while I’m here.

“It’s always good to know you can come back to the club you grew up playing for and just allowing me to get access to the gym and it’s got everything I need so I can’t thank them enough.

“I’ve just got to wait for something to pop up and grab it.

“It’s pretty hard but in saying that I’ve got a good family support around me, my partner and daughter.”

The hooker is in such a “mentally fresh” state even ready to confront the scene of his seasonending injury if it means an NRL opportunity.

“If you had asked me six months ago I would have said no. At the moment my head space is totally different,” Hodges said.

He said the pace of the NRL behind-the-scenes meant he wasn’t thinking much past the start of the 2017 season, although his management was unsuccessful in securing a back-up option with the Northern Pride.

It is understood the club had already filled their roster by the time Hodges made an approach.

“I would have liked to come back to Cairns and play for the Pride but it’s just the way things are so that’s that,” Hodges said.

“I got over that pretty quick so I’m just trying to focus on one or two months down the track.

“I can’t be thinking any further than that because I’ll just do my head in.”