Justin Hodges on boxing, family and advice for Brisbane Broncos’ new captain
Justin Hodges opens up on his future in the ring, the moment his son broke down into tears and the one line of advice he would give new Broncos captain Alex Glenn.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FORMER Broncos great Justin Hodges is one of Queensland sports most enigmatic figures.
After a 254-match NRL career he tried his hand at boxing and won two fights before being knocked out by Darcy Lussick in 39 seconds.
Hodges, who will again be a key man in Fox League’s NRL coverage this winter, today reveals the reason why he would like to enter the ring again, how he teaches children to take school far more seriously than he did, how his son’s tears after his last fight rattled him and the one line of advice he would give new Broncos captain Alex Glenn.
Justin Hodges wants to beat Darcy Lussick, Paul Gallen, then win an NRL premiership
Justin Hodges and Corey Parker both have designs on Broncos’ coaching job
Which is the toughest sport – rugby league or boxing?
Boxing in a way because you are so isolated. You cannot have an off night and come away with a victory. It’s a brutal sport.
Billy Johnstone, who also boxed and played rugby league, said nothing in league came close to matching the terror of the boxing ring. Do you agree?
He’s 100% right. You sit in your hotel for a few days and you try not to think about it. The butterflies, the expectations and the pressure it just mounts and mounts and mounts. Then you go to the back room and you watch fights on television. The worst thing is you don’t know when you are on. They say you’ll be on between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. In my first fight the guy in the fight got knocked down twice and I was told to get ready and I warmed up three or four times. At least in rugby league you knew at 8.30pm you were kicking off.
What happened when you were knocked out?
It was a lack of experience. We both came into the clinch and instead of holding him which most blokes do and the ref breaks it up I pushed him away and he had my right hand tied up and I dropped my left hand. In training no-one really hits after you tie up. He threw a right on my chin and knocked me out.
How were you in the days after it?
I was alright. I have been through the highs and lows. It was not my No 1 sport and I could wake up and play rugby league any day of the week because I was good at it. Boxing was more of a challenge. People will bag you. I was more worried about not getting the fulfilment after training for three months.
You once spoke about your family’s reservations about you boxing. How did they take the loss?
The biggest one for me was my kids Carter and Milane who said “what happened to daddy?’’ I rang Carter when I got back in the dressing room and the poor kid was crying. Listening to my son crying was the hardest thing about all of it. I probably did not see the impact it had on him but he is fine now.
Will you fight again?
I would like to. I have a busy schedule and I have not got much time. Being the competitor I am I do not want to finish with a loss but at the same time I know that it is not my chosen sport. I want that proper fulfilment of having a proper boxing match. The last couple of fights have been pretty quick.
Your three fights totalled 137 seconds which is not even a full round. I can see what you mean about craving a full length bout …
Well I wanted that fulfilment of going four or six rounds and having a decent contest. You want to win but I wanted to challenge myself. I tell that to indigenous kids. You cannot sit back and let people say you should do this or that. You have to have a crack at life. Have a go.
You are eyeing a future as a coach. What would Justin Hodges the coach say to a young Justin Hodges the player?
I often think about that. I watch the NBA and Le Bron James and these guys and how they act. Looking back when you are young you are just enjoying football but you don’t always see the big picture. But it was only towards the end of my career I really started to think about trying to leave a legacy and really being the best player I could be. Winning more competitions.
So you would change things?
I would tell myself to be driven more. Be focused. Set standards for your teammates and yourself. I see athletes today who did that and if I had my time over I would do it differently.
Which athletes are they?
Locky, Cam Smith and Billy Slater got it at any early age. It took me longer. I regret not trying to make my teammates better. I did not take my education seriously enough so that’s why I love teaching kids now – even my own – to make sure they make the most of it because it teaches them so many good habits.
Darius Boyd is being groomed to play centre this season. Can it work?
He has played there at Origin and handled it well. Like everything you have to train there. It will be a tough challenge for him because most of his career has been wing or fullback and it will take time but he just has to trust his instincts.
As a former Broncos skipper what advice would you have for new captain Alex Glenn?
Get to know your players. Come down to their level and spend time with them. At some stage you are going to have to trust them. You need to believe in each other.
He just has to do it his way and lead from the front. You can’t be sitting around telling guys what to do if you are not going to be do it yourself. He is a perfect choice.
Is it a high pressure job?
Yes. Expectations are high because of the calibre of the captains we have had – Locky (Darren Lockyer), Kevvie (Kevin Walters), Gorden Tallis, Wally Lewis. It is prestigious company. It’s the most talked about captaincy role in the NRL.
I remember once hearing Kevin Walters privately ask you whether you had got over losing that grand final to the Cowboys in extra time. You said you were still having flashbacks. Remember that?
I do and I still am. It’s so hard because when you go close different little things just keep going around in your mind. I was happy to retire. When that games finished I was so upset. Then I was relieved it was over. Then you go through the stage where you wish you could rewrite that last chapter.
What have you learnt from the transition from player to Fox Sports commentator?
I have learnt that once you say something it is out there and you cannot take it back. I have enjoyed it. It’s the next best thing to playing. You are paid to be honest and say things but it’s hard because you know you may not know the full story and there couple be something going on in a players life. That’s why when I criticise someone I often refer it to myself and put myself in that situation.
So where would you like to coach?
Anywhere to be honest but I am in no rush. I am learning a lot under Kevvie Walters at Origin level and he was very good to me when I was a player. I would love to coach Origin one day but being an NRL coach would be my big goal. I was told there has not been an indigenous coach win the NRL.
Stranded Cowboys ask NRL for charter flight to avoid finals farce
The North Queensland Cowboys risk missing Friday night’s final against the Sharks after the club failed to secure seats on one of the two direct flights to Sydney.
Why Roosters face easy call in the halves
Sandon Smith is the first to admit he didn’t have his best game last week, but his teammates have backed him to respond against Manly.