Elliott Whitehead says Canberra have the depth to cover the loss of Josh Hodgson

JOSH Hodgson’s knee injury is a hammer blow to Canberra’s finals hopes but fellow Englishman Elliott Whitehead says the Raiders have the depth to cover for the star rake.

A bruised Josh Hodgson of the Raiders during the Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders NRL round 11 game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park. pic Mark Evans

A POTENTIALLY season-ending injury to Josh Hodgson has many questioning Canberra’s premiership credentials in 2018, but according to teammate Elliott Whitehead, the club have the cavalry to cover the loss of their star rake.

Adding further insult to Hodgson’s injury, the Raiders’ hooking crisis has gone from bad to worse with Kurt Baptiste set to leave the club to take up a deal with Leigh in the English Championship in coming days.

The NRL has told the Raiders that the club will get no salary cap relief for the injury Hodgson suffered while playing for England in the World Cup semi-final against Tonga.

Well regarded in the nation’s capital, it is believed the club are keen to bring Baptiste back for the 2019 season.

Hodgson could be on the sidelines for up to nine months.

It will most likely leave the Raiders having to gamble on two relative unknowns to fight for the hooking spot next year.

After recently signing Craig Garvey from Canterbury, the Raiders are now hoping to bring in former St George Illawarra utility forward Siliva Havili for next season.

The 24-year-old Havili was impressive playing for Tonga at the World Cup.

Havili started his career at the Warriors before moving to the Dragons where he showed a lot of promise, but had his 2017 season cut short by a pectoral injury.

He was without a contract going into the World Cup, but coach Kristian Woolf spoke to the Raiders about him and commended his attitude and his toughness.

While the injury to Hodgson and the loss of Baptiste is a double blow, Elliott Whitehead is confident the Raiders have the depth to cover the dummy half dilemma.

“He’s a massive loss for us, but he’s a tough character and he’ll bounce back,” Whitehead said.

Former Bulldog Craig Garvey is expected to slot in at hooker.

“He’ll do everything right to make sure his knee is right to be able to play again, so hopefully there’s no setbacks and he can comeback as quickly as possible.

“We’ve just signed Craig Garvey and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.

“Our hookers will forge combinations with the halves and do a job for us. I’m sure they will fit in well and do what they need to do to help us win.”

Hodgson’s injury has briefly taken the spotlight off Whitehead, who has etched his name in history as the man responsible for the contentious ‘strip’ that cost Tonga a maiden World Cup final berth.

“No way, he lost it,” Whitehead joked of the decision that polarised the rugby league community.

“Nah I don’t know. I didn’t go in to strip the ball. I just went in to tackle him and the ball came free, it is what it is.

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“We’ll move on from that now, we got the win that we needed to get and we’re in the World Cup final.”

England enter their first final since 1995 as rank outsiders, having not beaten Australia in their past 11 attempts.

Whitehead says the underdogs can defy expectations and cause an upset, and credits master coach Wayne Bennett for creating a special bond among the playing group that has translated into on field success.

“We’ve got a lot of belief. We know the quality of players we’ve got but we also know the quality they have,” he said.

“Wayne’s a great guy, he’s the only coach I’ve ever had that sits at the back of the bus with us.

“It’s nice to see him come up the back and share stories with us and listen to ours.

“He makes you want to play for him. I can understand why people want to play for him.”

England face the Kangaroos on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium and will vie for their first World Cup title since 1972, when they participated as part of a combined Great Britain outfit.