I`m not convinced about wasting a quota spot on Brett Hodgson mainly because of his age and recent injury record, he won`t be playing all the games next year from what were lead to believe. His form from what ive seen this year has been a bit ropey to say the least, his mind could be elsewhere but i`m not convinced. I wouldn`t say he`s the best last line of defence, its mainly for him joining the line and being a danger in attack that he won MOS.



Personally i think Morley deserved MOS last season but thats just a personal opinion, yeh Hodgson played well in attack last year but i`m not expecting a similar last line of defence performance from Hodgson to the one that Paul Wellens put in against Wigan recently. I`d say that Mathers has improved past Hodgson as a last line of defence especially with the one on one tackle where he`s held up numerous players on or over the line



I would have looked at the NRL for a full back to replace Mathers, their are plenty of top quality full backs in the NRL that could be tempted over here.



It will be interesting to see if Ben Farrar signs a new deal at Manly, he`s impressed me since he`s took over from Brett Stewart whose out for the season. They will have 2 top quality full backs next year at Manly, two doesn`t really go into one.



Will it strengthen us next season by replacing Chris Hicks with Brett Hodgson on the quota ? I`d say thats a huge no, will it strengthen us significantly by replacing Richie Mathers with Brett Hodgson who doesn`t look like he will feature in all the games next year ? I`d say that it won`t strengthen us significantly given his age and recent injury record.



I could be wrong, its just my opinion.

As a Huddersfield player mentioned only this week, its as much what he does off the field as on. Hodgson is highly sought after as a mentor for young backs. He could have taken up a coaching position in Aus doing just that. We have some potentially outstanding young backs - Evans, Burke etc - where Hodgon's 2 years will pay significant dividends. On the pitch, he will deliver goal kicks that no-one else at our club can. He is also arguably the best extra half back playing at full back in SL. Ask Hudds fans about his impact in the final quarter of the pitch.



Mathers has been really good for us - he is great for team spriit and also acts as an extra half back. I will miss him when he goes. However, in totality, even at 33, Hodgson delivers more for for where our club is at the moment.

If Hodgson's form is so bad this year why is he currently running second in the scoring for the Albert Goldthorpe medal in RL Express?

He clearly wasn't fit for that game and probably tried to hard to impress us.



His goal kicking is going to bring us more points next season and I imagine Smith is bringing him in to help some of the youngsters. I don't follow the reserves/academy but don't we have a very good prospect for full back, Rhys Evans?



Mathers has been fantastic since we announced the signing but why did it take that to kick him on? I like Mathers, think he brings a lot to the team but This will improve us, not just for the 2 seasons he's here but hopefully a lot longer.

meanwhile, we have no one in the top running

Because when we put 40 points on a team and win in second gear away from home the local in-bred reporter still picks one of the opposition players as the top performer.

Hodgson for his kicking. We have not had a decent kicker since Jiffy.

The question has to be, does signing Brett Hodgson at the expense of losing both Chris Hicks and Richie Mathers strengthen or weaken us ?



I`m presuming that Chris Riley will replace Chris Hicks on the wing, we`ll lose a lot of tries on the right that Hicks would score but Riley wouldn`t do in the same situation. Mathers last line of defence will be missed as well especially in one on one situations.

I think to answer that fully relies on knowing who else we may sign so not something I can answer at the moment.



I do agree that we will miss Hicks' ability to almost always score when an opportunity presents. As far as I am aware, his games to tries record is the best in SL/cp games for the last 3 seasons. Riley will not replace that.

I think we'll sign a new winger this season.

That doesn't make sense. If Riley was being omitted to accommodate Hicks, then I see where you are coming from. They play in the same backline together, frequently.



I'm not sure who will be brought in to replace Hicks, if indeed anyone will be. It may result in a reshuffle of the current backs.

hodgson for his kicking



mathers for his sheer enthusiasm