Justin Hodges

Cairns winger/fullback was controversially cut from the Broncos after signing a contract with the Roosters in the lead up to the 2001 semi-final series. Hodges made his debut as a 17-year-old in May 2000 and was targeted by the QRL as an emerging Maroons’ player. However, the following year, he signed with the Roosters with a view to grabbing a first grade centre position. Hodges’ time in Sydney was ultimately unfulfilling, despite a grand final win in 2002. That year defensive lapses gave NSW two 'gift' tries in the 25-12 loss in the opening State of Origin match and he was subsequently dropped from the remainder of the series. In the opening match of the 2003 series he injured his knee on the shifting surface of the new Suncorp Stadium. Hodges’ aggressive on-field attitude unsettled his opponents but did not endear him to opposing fans (or even Roosters fans at different stages of his career) and after successive grand final losses in 2003-04 he returned to Brisbane to play with the Broncos. Back ‘home’ in 2005 Hodges’ career finally reached its full potential under former mentor Wayne Bennett. In 2006 his good form at fullback even forced boom Broncos team-mate Karmichael Hunt onto the wing. He returned to the State of Origin arena in 2006, won a premiership with the Broncos in October before making his Test debut in Australia’s Tri-Nations success at the end of the year.