Justin Hodges is happy to continue doing thing his way despite criticism

THEY may play on opposite sides of the field, but expect bustling Maroons centre Justin Hodges to go out of his way to find NSW winger Akuila Uate in tonight's State of Origin match.

Justin Hodges

THEY may play on opposite sides of the field, but expect bustling Maroons centre Justin Hodges to go out of his way to find NSW winger Akuila Uate in tonight's State of Origin match.

Hodges has revealed he and Uate have a running, albeit friendly, rivalry which was the source of his now infamous tongue poke two weeks ago during the Broncos' demolition of Newcastle Knights.

As Hodges scooted under the posts to score a match-turning try, he looked over his shoulder and poked his tongue out to trailing defenders.

The incident was a source of outrage by league fans, who claimed Hodges had brought the game into disrepute by callously mocking the Knights.

A Broncos fan even wrote a letter to The Courier Mail complaining about Hodges' behaviour.

The truth is, the Cairns junior was just having fun with his good mate Uate.

"That thing was just to Aku who was my wing partner in the Australian team," Hodges said.

"We're mates. I was just giving him cheek and poking the tongue out at him.

"He's obviously a bit faster than me yet in that try I managed to get around him so I just poked my tongue out at him as he ran after me.

"It was just a bit of fun."

The reaction to Hodges' tongue poke was the latest proof that the veteran does not elicit measured responses from NRL fans.

He is a love or hate figure who is severely misunderstood.

Hodges has had one of the most incident packed careers of any modern footballer.

Quiet and reserved in front of the media, he is anything but laid-back during a match and is one of few players who express themselves openly through football.

He will pick fights, taunt and celebrate wildly.

In games he often seems too intense for his own good, yet at Broncos training he is the joker.

During press conferences at Broncos HQ, Hodges often joins the media scrum to rile teammates with light-hearted banter.

In Game Two tonight he will undoubtedly do the same to rival players and fans.

Hodges is not concerned about public perception, he has bigger things to focus on such as tonight.

Sending a warning to the Blues, Hodges declared he wants the ball in his hands a lot more tonight than he did during his quiet Game One.

"I definitely want to make a bigger impact," he said.

"In Game One I didn't get as much ball as I'd like to.

"It was brutal up front though so that's where the game was played and not much came my way.

"But hopefully that changes in Game Two and I get a bit more ball and opportunity."