Trent Hodkinson prepares to lead a rookie-laden Knights team in round one

AS the Knights’ biggest off-season recruit, Trent Hodkinson is the player charged with steering the NRL’s most inexperienced side around the park.

Trent Hodkinson at training for the Knights. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

HE has been in the driver’s seat for NSW in the pressure-cooker that is Origin over the past two seasons.

But Trent Hodkinson could well be facing his greatest personal challenge as he prepares to lead a rookie-laden Newcastle into battle against the Titans on Sunday on the Gold Coast.

As the Knights’ biggest off-season recruit and the player charged with steering the NRL’s most inexperienced side around the park, the pressure on Hodkinson to perform will be immense.

But while the former Bulldogs halfback admits his side is a work in progress, he is still confident of a bold showing first up.

“I know we have prepared well and done our best on the training paddock to prepare as well as we can,” he said.

“Coming off that trial (against Canberra) was pretty disappointing and we knew we had to fix a few things up since then. We are still working on things and we know it’s going to take time. But it’s starting to come together really well. Combinations are coming together.”

Knights coach Nathan Brown’s decision to hand five rookies — Jaelen Feeney, Pat Mata’utia, Jacob and Daniel Saifiti and David Bhana — their NRL debuts in round one has raised plenty of eyebrows elsewhere but Hodkinson is convinced they all deserve to be there.

“They are impressive. All of them had great pre-seasons and trained ­really well,” he said.

“I know they are buzzing. They probably have a few nerves but us older blokes have got to get around them and keep their mind off the game leading into it. You don’t want to over-think it and we’ll be helping them out there.”

Tariq Sims and Trent Hodkinson at Knights training. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Hooker Tyler Randell believes it is a great opportunity for the Knights to make a real statement first up. “It’s a very well documented young team with a lot of debutants there so I think we need to make a statement right from the get-go and start off well,” he said.

“No one reads into what people say as far as how we are going to go. To have a young team, no one knows what to expect which is a good thing and hopefully the only way to go is up.”

Knights winger Chanel Mata’utia is facing an anxious couple of days before knowing if he will play against with his partner due at any moment to give birth.

Originally published as Trent Hodkinson prepares to lead a rookie-laden Knights team in round one