Trent Hodkinson has ‘plenty of good footy left in him’ as talks with Manly continue
TRENT Hodkinson’s agent will continue talks with Manly coach Trent Barrett to see if they can strike a deal for the out-of-favour Newcastle playmaker.
NRL
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TRENT Hodkinson’s so-called dodgy knee is not the health risk everyone is making it out to be, and the former NSW Origin-winning halfback feels he has “plenty of good footy left in him”.
That is the view of Hodkinson’s agent and former top-grade player David Riolo, who has defended one of the NRL’s good guys amid injury “misinformation”.
Riolo plans to continue talks with Manly coach Trent Barrett today to see if they can strike a deal for the out-of-favour Newcastle playmaker and reunite him with the club which gave him his start.
Although Hodkinson has a year to run on his Knights contract, Mitchell Pearce’s arrival means he must find a new club to have another crack in the NRL.
For that to happen, Hodkinson would need Newcastle to carry a significant whack of his lucrative $800,000-plus contract for next year.
There is even talk that if Hodkinson stays at the Knights he might play off the bench in NSW Cup because of competition in the halves from Pearce, Connor Watson, Brock Lamb and Jack Cogger.
Barrett is interested in Hodkinson as a possible partner for Daly Cherry-Evans following the departure of Blake Green.
Barrett also has a rap on recruit Lachlan Croker, although the 20-year-old only has limited NRL experience with Canberra.
It would be a big risk for Manly to go into the new season without an experienced halves partner to take pressure off Cherry-Evans.
While Hodkinson’s knee problems also cast doubt over his worth, Riolo is adamant his issues can be managed.
“When he is my age (45) he is going to be a shot duck but so am I, so are most of my mates,” Riolo said.
“That is the nature of a contact sport.
“It doesn’t leave your body in good shape in later life.
“But there has been a lot of misinformation (about his knees). His health is fine.
“You could check the stats but I don’t think he has missed a game in the last three years through his knee.
“He didn’t get picked a couple of times last year, he got dropped. But it wasn’t his knee.”
Riolo said Newcastle coach Nathan Brown had been supportive of Hodkinson’s situation.
However, that doesn’t make it any easier for a man who has conducted himself honourably on and off the field throughout his career.
“Trent just gets on with it and does what he is supposed to do but it is not an ideal situation, is it?” Riolo said.
“But that is modern-day football.
“You can either sulk or you can get on with it and Trent is a very positive person and he just gets on with it.
“He definitely feels that he has plenty of good footy left in him.
“Trent would be a great acquisition for Manly.
“I would like to see that happen. But it is not at that stage yet.
“I will talk to Manly tomorrow and see where they are at.”