NRL 2021: Josh Hodgson set to depart as Canberra Raiders overhaul roster

Star hooker Josh Hodgson is edging closer to the exit door at Canberra as the club prepares to revamp their roster.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

The odds are firming that Josh Hodgson will be the next Englishman to follow George Williams out the door at Canberra as the Raiders prepare for a roster overhaul.

It comes as chief executive Don Furner doubled down on the club’s decision to send the homesick halfback packing immediately, with Furner revealing “there is 120 people in this organisation facing a lot more difficulties than homesickness and they turn up to work”.

It is fair to say that privately the Raiders coaching staff and management were shocked after Williams informed the club that he was unable to train on Tuesday — and could not guarantee he would be right to play against the Sydney Roosters in Saturday’s crucial showdown in Gosford.

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As Furner said when he fronted the media on Friday: “We didn’t turn up to work that day knowing someone wasn’t going to turn up to work and pull out of the game which we have to win to keep our chances alive.”

Furner also revealed how the club had offered Williams welfare and counselling as well as the opportunity for him and his pregnant partner to return home at the end of the season for a three-month break on full pay.

Josh Hodgson could be on the move next season. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“He has asked a number of times (for a release),” Furner said.

“Unfortunately we have to make decisions on the best interests of the club, not the individual.

“I can’t leave the club exposed at the end of the year with a guy who might get on a plane and not come back and we have a position to fill.

“If he is genuinely homesick, and we offered him the support for that, he should get home.”

Meanwhile, Hodgson’s future is also up for debate with Brisbane a likely destination.

Despite Hodgson telling The Daily Telegraph this week he has no knowledge of any interest from the Broncos, sources with knowledge are adamant Kevvie Walters is keen to sign the 31-year-old, who is now playing off the bench behind Tom Starling.

Hodgson, who stood down as co-captain earlier this season, still has another year on his existing contract. While he said this week he was committed to do what was best for the Raiders, he also conceded “I am not a bench player”.

He said he thinks he has at least four or five years left in his career and his experience would no doubt be an asset to the Broncos, who also have Adam Reynolds coming in 2022.

Stuart was set to meet Hodgson for a one-on-one chat on Friday to discuss Hodgson’s decision to go directly to The Daily Telegraph to speak in support for Williams.

It is unsure how that meeting panned out but Stuart said prior to their sit down: “Josh came out and supported a friend yesterday, I get that.

“It is just how things are done.

“Everyone makes up their own mind. I am not saying I am 100 per cent correct every time I make a decision. But that is how we need to play (on Saturday). We need to get out there and play for each other.”

Josh Hodgson and Ricky Stuart were due to meet on Friday. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Injured lock Joseph Tapine is another player thought to be unhappy, although he is contracted until the end of 2023. Tapine’s partner took a shot at Stuart on social media earlier this year.

These three players are all on big money and depending how things work out it could open up plenty of salary cap space to make changes some believe are well overdue.

Canberra came into this season rated one of the genuine title chances but after 11 games have only four wins and sit 11th on the ladder.

The Raiders have been in denial for some time about a supposed split in the camp before it all bubbled to the surface this week when a stack of players ‘liked’ Williams’ social media post disputing that he had agreed to an immediate release but rather had been “kicked out the door”.

Williams is now locked in a legal stand-off with the club but Furner certainly was not backing away from putting the club first.

Furner said he was also concerned for Stuart’s wellbeing.

“Coaching is a very difficult job,” he said. “I used to joke with my brother (Dave) when he did it, you are like a duck in the shooting gallery. People can just take pot shots at you all the time on social media.

Ricky Stuart is focused on turning Canberra’s on-field form around this weekend. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“It is a difficult job to manage everybody’s expectations, everybody’s individual issues has to be managed by a coach. It is very difficult.”

Stuart said he was feeling “okay” and his mood was certainly positive.

“Obviously it is all part of the job,” Stuart said. “You just have to get on with it. I am very fortunate I have a lot of good people around.”

It’s now over to the players to show how committed they are to each other, but Stuart maintained he was confident they could still turn their season around: “I wouldn’t stand here now and say, ‘no, we are ready to play’ if I thought we were going to get a flogging, and I don’t think we have any chance of winning.

“I wouldn’t put myself out there.”

FURNER’S FEARS FOR MENTAL HEALTH OF NRL COACHES

Raiders chief executive Don Furner has spoken of the “mental stress and mental health” that under-pressure NRL coaches face daily, including his own Ricky Stuart.

And his comments drew immediate support from the Rugby Leagues Coaches’ Association.

In the wake of Canberra’s messy mid-season split with halfback George Williams, Furner said coaches were virtually forgotten when the focus on mental health engulfs rugby league.

“No one thinks about the mental health or mental stress that coaches go through,” Furner said. “People are quick to think that coaches aren’t human. I feel for all coaches.”

Williams sought a release after the season but the club brought forward his request and told the English halfback he had been released immediately.

Saying he was suffering from “mental wellbeing and welfare” issues, Williams withdrew from training and then Canberra’s vital match against Sydney Roosters at Gosford on Saturday.

Furner’s stance comes after Josh Hodgson’s explosive interview in Thursday’s The Daily Telegraph where the hooker maintained the players hadn’t received a suitable explanation for why Williams had to leave immediately.

The Raiders released a statement on Thursday in an attempt to clear up the matter.

Raiders CEO Don Furner and coach Ricky Stuart have had an eventful week. Picture: Nikki Short

“George, through his management, has requested on multiple occasions a release from his playing contract at the end of the 2021 season. The timing and conditions of the release suited George’s personal situation and the club understood this,” the statement said.

“George’s final request for a release came on Monday evening. The following day George withdrew from training and the upcoming match against the Roosters. This decision prompted the club to offer George an immediate release given the stress this was evidently causing he and his partner, thereby giving them the opportunity to return home earlier.”

The club said it had little choice but to cut Williams loose.

“We would like to reiterate that it was the clubs overwhelming preference to keep George until the end of next season, as he is a good person, well-liked and a valuable member of our club,” the statement said. “However, when this situation became untenable, we needed to act in the best interests of the club and our future.”

Already under pressure having won just four of 11 games this season, Stuart must now name, find or manufacture a new halfback mid-season.

“Ricky has sponsors, fans and the City of Canberra wanting a win in a game we need to win to stay in touch with the top eight. And there is now a hole for the coach to fill,” Furner said.

“No one is there caring about the mental health of a coach when they are copping it online and having the responsibility to win a game this weekend.

“We have sponsors and members who have expectations of the coach. No one seems to give a thought to the position the coach has been put in having to find a halfback at short notice.

George Williams had his request for a release granted by the Raiders. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“All coaches cop it. At the start of the year, everyone was calling for Des Hasler’s head at Manly.

“Players come out and discuss the trolls – and I get that – but coaches have a very, very difficult job in keeping everybody happy, keeping the team winning and having tough conversations with people and some people don’t like it.

“We do care as a club.”

Long-time rugby league official, Brian Canavan, new CEO of the Rugby Leagues Coaches’ Association, backed Furner’s comments.

“Coaches have this incredibly expansive role,” Canavan said.

“That is coaching footy, leadership, management of people and it’s also about caring for the players for their health and wellbeing as well. Even though they are caring for everyone else, who do the coaches turn to? That is where the Coaches Association can be of great assistance.

“With the Coaches Association, our main objectives are professional development and personal health and wellbeing. They are the absolute priorities.

“Beyond that, hopefully, we can get to a stage where we are actually coming up with courses that will advance our coaches more quickly, particularly the emerging coaches.”

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