DUMPED former Newcastle captain Trent Hodkinson will end a seven game NRL exile against Wests Tigers on Sunday after finally getting the seal of approval from Knights coach Nathan Brown to make his return to the top grade.
While officially named in the number 20 jumper, The Daily Telegraph has been told young playmaker Brock Lamb will make way for Hodkinson against the Tigers with the 20-year-old halfback set to play NSW Cup for the Knights on Saturday.
While it hasn’t been unusual to see Hodkinson training with the top squad since his axing, he spent plenty of time in the halves during a session on Tuesday with sources close to the team later confirming he was back.
He hasn’t featured in the NRL since being axed after his side’s round seven 24-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters on April 14 with Brown preferring the younger halves combination of Lamb and Jaelen Feeney ever since.
Trent Hodkinson is back in first grade. Picture: Gregg PorteousSource:News Corp Australia
But Lamb is believed to have paid the price for his side’s inability to close out last Sunday’s game against St George Illawarra which the Knights lost 32-28 after leading 28-10 at halftime.
“I think the coach is just looking for a bit more direction and a cool head and that is what Hodko brings,” a source said.
“It’s a huge ask for young Brock to be the focal point of the side’s attack week in week out as well so mentally, it will take some of the pressure off him.
“No-one doubts Brock will be back sooner rather than later.”
One of the game’s good guys, Hodkinson has handled his stint in the lower grade like a true professional, taking the decision on the chin without a single complaint.
While he hasn’t been setting the world on fire in NSW Cup, Brown obviously believes the former NSW Blues halfback’s experience is needed in a game between the cellar-dwellers that could have a profound bearing on who takes home the wooden spoon.
Hodkinson is under contract to the club for another season but despite his early season axing and on-going issues surrounding a chronic knee problem, there has been no suggestion the Knights are looking to off-load him for 2018.
— Barry Toohey
In other Late Mail:
* Cameron Smith (sternum) will take part in Melbourne’s final training session and will play;
* Broncos winger Corey Oates (virus) is in doubt for Friday night’s blockbuster clash with Melbourne. Jonus Pearson is on standby. Ben Hunt has ousted Kodi Nikorima for the starting halfback spot;
* James Tedesco(ankle) will play for the Tigers;
* Sam Burgess (glute) has been declared a certain starter for the Rabbitohs;
* Warriors hooker Issac Luke (shoulder) is set to miss just one game, with coach Stephen Kearney hopeful he’ll be fit to face the Panthers in Round 19 after next week’s bye;
* Star Warriors five-eighth Kieran Foran (quad) is looking good for Saturday’s clash against Manly after being ruled out last weekend.
TITANS V DRAGONS
Friday 30 June, 6:00pm at CBUS Super Stadium
Titans: 1. Jarryd Hayne 2. Anthony Don 3. Dale Copley 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Will Zillman 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James (c) 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Joe Greenwood 13. Chris McQueen. Interchange: 14. Pat Politoni 15. Morgan Boyle 16. Max King 17. Agnatius Paasi 18. Paterika Vaivai 19. Nathaniel Peteru
Players cut: John Olive, Jamal Fogarty
Late Mail: Unchanged. Anthony Don (groin) and Tyrone Roberts (shoulder) will play. Chris McQueen (neck) is also likely, although his injury can be a day-to-day proposition. Kane Elgey (sternum) will come into contention following next week’s bye.
Dragons: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Euan Aitken 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Kurt Mann 8. Russell Packer 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Leeson Ah Mau 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Joel Thompson 13. Jack de Belin. Interchange: 14. Tariq Sims 15. Jacob Host 16. Hame Sele 17. Josh McCrone 18. Blake Lawrie 19. Taane Milne
Players cut: Will Matthews, Matt Dufty
Late Mail: Coach Paul McGregor says Tyson Frizell (ribs/ankle) will take the field. Euan Aitken (hamstring) has been cleared to return, with the Dragons unchanged.
Paul Vaughan is out with a calf injury. Picture: Brett CostelloSource:News Corp Australia
BRONCOS V STORM
Friday 30 June 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: 1. Jordan Kahu 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. David Mead 6. Benji Marshall 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Korbin Sims 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Alex Glenn 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Ben Hunt 18. Joe Ofahengaue 21. Jonus Pearson
Players cut: Jai Arrow, Jaydn Su’A
Late Mail: Winger Corey Oatesis at long odds to play after suffering a mystery illness before Thursday’s captain’s run at Red Hill.
The dumped Queensland Origin winger will undergo medical checks after failing to appear at Brisbane’s final training run as they prepare for an Origin-style clash with ladder leaders the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
Oates will be given until game day to prove his match fitness, but coach Wayne Bennett says is an unlikely start, with boom rookie Jonus Pearson on standby after running with the top squad this morning.
“At this stage, Corey is not playing,” Bennett said.
“He’s got a … well, I don’t know if virus is the appropriate word, but something is affecting his lower back, legs and groin.
“He just woke up with it and doesn’t feel mobile, so we will get him checked out.
“It just happened overnight. It’s not the flu, we’re not sure what it is, it’s affecting his lower limbs, we had a similar situation with Ben Hunt a few years ago, but we don’t think it’s too serious.
“If he wakes up tomorrow feeling good, we will play him, but it doesn’t look like being the case.”
While Oates is in doubt, there is no uncertainty over the halfback spot, with Ben Hunt ousting Kodi Nikorima after his superb display against the Raiders last week.
Nikorima was named in the No. 7 jumper but Bennett confirmed he will start off interchange, meaning Hunt and Benji Marshall will be the scrumbase duo tasked with dismantling the Storm.
“Ben will start tomorrow, Kodi will go to the bench,” Bennett said.
“His game last week was important but I will keep rotating the halves around for a while, until we get closer to the end of the season.
“Ben’s performance last week was as good as he’s had in 18 months so he has to maintain that form.
“It’s not so much a battle (of the halves), it just depends on who is doing the best job there.
“Benji gets an opportunity again this week, Kodi has been good, it’s not a crucial time of the season yet.
“The next five or six weeks we will have to finalise our best 17 and go from there.”
— Peter Badel
Corey Oates is in doubt for the Broncos.Source:Getty Images
Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Tim Glasby 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 15. Slade Griffin 16. Kenny Edwards 17. Joe Stimson 18. Mark Nicholls 20. Curtis Scott
Players cut: Brodie Croft, Jordan McLean
Late Mail: Hooker Cameron Smith (sternum) will take part in the final training session and will play. Smith had a week’s break with family in Queensland after the second State of Origin clash. Jordan McLean (fractured cheekbone) won’t return ahead of schedule after dropping out. Will Chambers (concussion) has trained this week and been cleared. Brandon Smith (fractured wrist) wasn’t named on Tuesday and may require surgery.
ROOSTERS V SHARKS
Saturday 1 July, 3:00pm at Central Coast Stadium
Roosters: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Luke Keary 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Dylan Napa 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Aidan Guerra. Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Nat Butcher 17. Connor Watson 18. Kane Evans 19. Mitchell Cornish 20. Chris Smith 22. Victor Radley
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: No injury concerns and will be unchanged.
Sharks: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jack Bird 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Gerard Beale 6. James Maloney 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Jayson Bukuya 15. Chris Heighington 16. Kurt Capewell 17. Joseph Paulo 18. Sam Tagataese 19. Jeremy Latimore 20. Jesse Ramien 21. Edrick Lee
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: No changes. Jayden Brailey had surgery late Tuesday, with plates inserted to repair two breaks in his jaw. The Sharks are unsure when he will return, but are hopeful he is back “in advance of the finals”.
SEA EAGLES V WARRIORS
Saturday 1 July, 5:30pm (AEST) at nib Stadium
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Matthew Wright 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Lewis Brown 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Cameron Cullen 15. Lloyd Perrett 16. Darcy Lussick 17. Addin Fonua-Blake 18. Jarrad Kennedy 19. Jono Wright 20. Brad Parker 21. Jackson Hastings
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: To come
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 3. Blake Ayshford 4. David Fusitu’a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kieran Foran 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Nathaniel Roache 10. Ben Matulino 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14. Ata Hingano 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Albert Vete 17. James Gavet 18. Manu Vatuvei 20. Ligi Sao 21. Isaiah Papalii 22. Mason Lino
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Nathaniel Roache gets the start at hooker, with Issac Luke (shoulder) out. Luke is likely to return to the footy field within a fortnight after dislocating his shoulder in Friday’s 21-14 NRL win over the Bulldogs, according to coach Stephen Kearney. He’s set to only miss one match though, with the Warriors having a bye in Round 18. Kearney expects Luke to be back for the Round 19 clash against Penrith. Five-eighth Kieran Foran (quad) is tipped to play after being ruled out last weekend. “He’s a lot further ahead this week than he was,” Kearney said of Foran.
RAIDERS V COWBOYS
Saturday 1 July, 7:30pm at GIO Stadium
Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Sia Soliola. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Luke Bateman 16. Dave Taylor 17. Joseph Tapine 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Royce Hunt 20. Adam Clydsdale 21. Clay Priest
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: No changes, with Dave Taylor to get his first run in the NRL following chicken pox.
Cowboys: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Michael Morgan 8. John Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14. Ben Hampton 15. Coen Hess 16. Shaun Fensom 17. Corey Jensen 18. Kyle Laybutt 19. Kalyn Ponga 20. Brandon Uele 21. Patrick Mago
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: To come
SuperCoach: Buy, Hold & Sell3:35
NRL: Breanna Holden and Tom Sangster discuss who to buy, hold and sell ahead of round 17.
KNIGHTS V TIGERS
Sunday 2 July, 2:00pm at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: 1. Nathan Ross 2. Ken Sio 3. Dane Gagai 4. Peter Mata’utia 5. Brendan Elliot 6. Brock Lamb 7. Jaelen Feeney 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Danny Levi 10. Josh King 11. Sione Mata’utia 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mitchell Barnett. Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer 15. Joe Wardle 16. Tyler Randell 17. Jacob Saifiti 18. Sam Mataora 19. Sam Stone 20. Trent Hodkinson 21. Josh Starling
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Halfback Trent Hodkinson has been recalled to the top grade in place of Brock Lamb.
Tigers: 1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Esan Marsters 4. Moses Suli 5. Kevin Naiqama 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Ava Seumanafagai 11. Sauaso Sue 12. Kyle Lovett 13. Elijah Taylor. Interchange: 14. Matt Eisenhuth 15. JJ Felise 16. Michael Chee Kam 17. Matt McIlwrick 18. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 19. Jack Littlejohn 20. Joel Edwards 21. Alex Twal
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: James Tedesco (ankle) will play after missing last week. Chris Lawrence and Tim Grant (both hamstring) are due back after the bye.
SKD arrives at Knights1:07
NRL: Shaun Kenny-Dowall arrives at his new club.
RABBITOHS V PANTHERS
Sunday 2 July, 4:00pm at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs: 1. Cody Walker 2. Alex Johnston 3. Aaron Gray 4. Bryson Goodwin 5. Braidon Burns 6. John Sutton 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Robbie Farah 10. David Tyrrell 11. Tyrell Fuimaono 12. Angus Crichton 13. Sam Burgess. Interchange: 14. Damien Cook 15. Jason Clark 16. Zane Musgrove 17. George Burgess 18. Anthony Cherrington 19. Kyle Turner 20. Robbie Rochow 22. Cameron Murray
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Forward Sam Burgess (glute) has been declared a certain starter after resting up over the bye. “He trained, he trained really well. He’s fine, he’ll be right,” teammate Adam Reynolds said. Aaron Gray also returns from a facial injury.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Waqa Blake 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6. Matt Moylan (c) 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Rein 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Isaah Yeo 13. Trent Merrin. Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Leilani Latu 16. Tim Browne 17. Viliame Kikau 18. Kaide Ellis 19. Sione Katoa 20. Sitaleki Akauola 21. Jed Cartwright
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Skipper Matt Moylan and hooker Mitch Rein missed training on Wednesday with a virus, but are all but certain to take on the Rabbitohs.
COMPLETED MATCHES
EELS V BULLDOGS
Thursday 29 June, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Bevan French 6. Corey Norman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Daniel Alvaro 9. Cameron King 10. Tim Mannah 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Kenny Edwards 13. Nathan Brown. Interchange: 14. David Gower 15. Tepai Moeroa 16. Suaia Matagi 17. Will Smith 19. Sosaia Vave 20. Nathan Davis
Players cut: Marata Niukore, John Folau
Late Mail: No changes, with Tepai Moeroa (ribs) cleared to return.
Bulldogs: 1. William Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Chase Stanley 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Moses Mbye 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 15. Danny Fualalo 11. Josh Jackson 12. Adam Elliot 13. David Klemmer. Interchange: 10. Sam Kasiano 14. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Francis Tualau 17. Matt Frawley
Players cut: Andy Saunders, Brenko Lee, Kerrod Holland, Asipeli Fine
Late Mail: Danny Fualalo starts at prop, with Sam Kasiano dropping back to the bench.
Graham goes under knife0:52
NRL: Bulldogs skipper James Graham talks about his injury.
Originally published as Late Mail: Hodko recalled, Lamb axed
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