Parramatta has emerged as a shock contender to sign Canberra and English hooker Josh Hodgson.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Eels and Hodgson are already locked in contract talks about a move for 2023, when the star dummy half’s Raiders contract officially expires.
Parramatta started hunting for a new hooker immediately after incumbent Reed Mahoney decided to quit the club and join Canterbury after next season.
Interest between the Eels and Hodgson is genuine although no deal has yet been struck.
Well-placed sources claim Hodgson, 32, is Parramatta’s priority choice at hooker although the Eels are also considering Roosters hooker Sam Verrills, who is expected to leave Bondi after the club signed Melbourne’s Brandon Smith.
Hodgson has one-year remaining at Canberra and he and the club – at this stage - want that commitment fulfilled.
He will earn north of $800,000 for 2021 but will have to accept a heavy pay cut from 2023, possibly agreeing to a new deal worth about $400,000 a year. Parramatta’s offer would be expected to span two seasons.
Hodgson will be 33 years old during the 2023 season but is highly regarded by Parramatta’s coaching staff.
The Raiders dummy half was close to signing with Wests Tigers for this coming season but a financial deal between both clubs couldn’t be found.
Even if a deal can be reached, there is little chance of Hodgson joining Parramatta next season given the Eels still have Mahoney under contract for another season.
Canberra has a comfortable salary cap for next season and are more than happy to keep Hodgson for 2022 and absorb his cost.
Parramatta has emerged as a shock contender to sign Canberra and English hooker Josh Hodgson.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the
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Great season boys! You showed you were as good as any other team and better than almost all. So proud to be an Eels supporter!
1st half: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0KD4NRxwI
2nd half: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5KLLBxeCH8
Today's preview has been written up by /u/Aussieguy727:
2020/21 Offseason
Notable Gains
-Bryce Cartwright (Gold Coast Titans)
-Keegan Hipgrave (Gold Coast Titans)
-Joey Lussick (Salford Red Devils)
-Michael Oldfield (Canberra Raiders)
-Tom Opacic (North Queensland Cowboys)
-Isaiah Papali’i (New Zealand Warriors)
-Nathaniel Roache (New Zealand Warriors)
Notable Losses
-Andrew Davey (Manly Sea Eagles)
-Kane Evans (New Zealand Warriors)
-Jai Field (Wigan Warriors)
-Michael Jennings (SIA Suspension)
-Jaeman Salmon (Penrith Panthers)
-Brad Takairangi (Hull Kingston Rovers)
-Peni Terepo (Retirement)
-Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)
Top 30 Promotions
- David Hollis
- Sam Hughes
2021 Expectations
Much has been made of Parramatta’s struggles to advance past week two of the finals in recent seasons. It is a legitimate criticism of both the coaching staff and the playing roster and hurling that proverbial gorilla off the team’s back has to be the priority for the club in 2021.
Still, as much as much as everyone likes to meme about the issue above, Parramatta look to finally be learning how to win consistently in the regulation season. Over the last two years they look to have learned their lessons from the horrific 2018 season where they followed up a 16-win season with a wooden spoon effort. Since then they have posted 14 and 15-win campaigns and while they are still guilty of form troughs, they are increasingly winning the games they are supposed to. Ultimately, Parramatta should and will consider a berth in the Top 4 as one of their primary goals this year – even given how fierce that battle will be. Their roster is relatively well-balanced and features an ascending spine and a dominant pair of bookends. They are in a position to battle for the premiership on the significant proviso that they can unlock their mental block in the finals.
Key Player
With the future of Michael Jennings in flux the Eels have a huge void at left centre. Tom Opacic has the inside running to claim the vacant role and while he might not be a star by any means, he looms as a key player as a result.
The Eels have largely been a left-edge dominant attacking side in recent years. With the likes of Semi Radradra and then Maika Sivo holding down the left flank and the growth of Clinton Gutherson’s play-making ability down that edge the Eels have unsurprisingly catered to the strengths of the star win
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