Six week leave paramount to Hodges recovery
December 18th 2008 07:30
Justin Hodges once again finds himself in a world of hurt after recently being granted six weeks compassionate leave by the Brisbane Broncos due to some 'personal issues'.
For the NRL and Hodges' sake, let's hope everything is working out fine for the 26 year old Australian international.
He is a match winner and entertainer of the highest quality for the Broncos, especially since he returned to the club in 2005 after a three year stint at the Sydney Roosters.
Although his time at Bondi was hardly spectacular, his return to Brisbane has yielded terrific dividends for all NRL fans, let alone Broncos supporters.
The off field troubles that plagued his career in Sydney seemed to be behind him, has he effectively established himself as the best centre in the game at the moment.
In recent times however, things have been tough for the skilful no.3 with injury forcing him to miss Australia's world cup assault.
Since then, Hodges was involved in a heavy drinking session a few days ago, and failed to show up to a Brisbane function the day after.
Rather than sack the player for his failure to show up, Brisbane granted Hodges six weeks leave to sort out his off field issues.
With no clear evidence of any wrong doing, this was the correct decision by the Broncos to allow an important player like Hodges enough time and room to clear his head.
This decision could not have been an easy one for the club to make, considering Brisbane were at the epic-centre of a number of off field controversies in 2008 involving players Darius Boyd, Karmichael Hunt and Sam Thaiday.
But the Broncos have acted well in regards to Hodges' present case, in the hope of seeing a refreshed Justin back in the squad on the 26th of January (Australia Day).
With this stance, one hopes Hodges has taken the time off properly and used it to clear his head prior to season 2009.
It is paramount that Hodges is fit and raring to go for Brisbane next year.
At 26 year of age and with his experience, Hodges will assume a leadership role with the club, especially with the impeding arrival of former Storm sensation Israel Folau.
He will form arguably the NRL’s most dangerous centre partnership with Folau’s arrival to the club.
One can only imagine what a fit and clear Hodges can produce on the field with Folau, if everything off it is going according to plan.
If Hodges is back raring to go, Brisbane’s decision to allow him six weeks leave could prove to be a season defining move in the context of the Broncos’ 2009 premiership aspirations.
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