Justin Hodges facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Full name | Justin Hodges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 May 1982 Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
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Playing information
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| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 101 kg (15 st 13 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre, Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Justin Hodges (born 25 May 1982) is an Australian professional boxer and a famous former rugby league player. He played in the National Rugby League (NRL) during the 2000s and 2010s. As a star centre, he represented both the Queensland team in the State of Origin series and the Australian international team.
Hodges began his NRL career with the Brisbane Broncos. He later moved to the Sydney Roosters, where he helped the team win the 2002 NRL Premiership. In 2005, he returned to the Broncos and won another championship, the 2006 NRL Premiership. He also served as the captain of the Broncos.
Contents
Early Life and Junior Career
Justin Hodges was born in Cairns, Queensland, on 25 May 1982. He started playing junior rugby league for the Cairns Kangaroos. His talent was clear from a young age, and he was eventually signed by the Brisbane Broncos to play professionally.
Professional Rugby League Career
First Years with the Broncos (2000–2001)
In 2000, Hodges made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos in a match against the Canberra Raiders. Just two games later, he scored his first-ever NRL try. The following year, he became a full-time player for the team.
After the 2001 season, Hodges decided to sign a contract with the Sydney Roosters. This move surprised the Broncos, and he did not play for the main team for the rest of the season.
Sydney Roosters Success (2002–2004)
Hodges joined the Sydney Roosters in 2002 and had an immediate impact. He made his debut for the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin that year. At the end of the season, he played in the 2002 NRL Grand Final, where the Roosters defeated the New Zealand Warriors 30–8 to win the championship.
In 2003, the Roosters traveled to England for the 2003 World Club Challenge and beat the English champions, St Helens R.F.C., with a score of 38–0. Unfortunately, Hodges suffered a serious knee injury during that year's State of Origin series, which kept him off the field for a while.
After some disagreements and time away from the team in 2004, Hodges returned to help the Roosters reach the 2004 NRL Grand Final. Although they lost to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Hodges had proven he was a valuable player.
Return to the Brisbane Broncos (2005–2008)
In 2005, Hodges returned to his first club, the Brisbane Broncos. He and coach Wayne Bennett sorted out their past issues, and Hodges was ready to play his best rugby league. He had a strong season, scoring 11 tries in 19 games.
The 2006 season was a huge success for Hodges and the Broncos. Coach Bennett moved him to the fullback position, which helped the team's performance. The Broncos made it to the 2006 NRL Grand Final and defeated the Melbourne Storm 15–8. Hodges scored a try in the final, winning his second NRL championship.
His great form led to his selection for the Australian team, where he made his international debut in the 2006 Tri-Nations Series. In 2007, he was the Broncos' top try-scorer and was named the Dally M Centre of the Year.
Captaincy and Final Years (2009–2015)
Hodges continued to be a star player for the Broncos, Queensland, and Australia. In 2009, he was part of the Australian team that won the Four Nations tournament. Sadly, he missed the entire 2010 season due to a serious injury.
He made a strong comeback in 2011 and was a key part of Queensland's record-breaking State of Origin success. In 2014, he was named co-captain of the Broncos, and in 2015, he became the sole captain.
In 2015, Hodges announced it would be his final season. He led the Broncos to the 2015 NRL Grand Final against their rivals, the North Queensland Cowboys. In a thrilling match, the Cowboys won 17–16 in golden point extra time. It was a dramatic end to Hodges' amazing 251-game NRL career.
Boxing Career
After retiring from rugby league, Hodges started a professional boxing career. He made his debut on 9 February 2019, winning his first fight by knockout in just 75 seconds. He also won his second fight quickly. In his third fight, he faced fellow rugby league player Darcy Lussick and was defeated.
Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  Brisbane Broncos |
5 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2001 | 12 | 4 | 16 | ||
| 2002 |  Sydney Roosters |
26 | 11 | 44 | |
| 2003 | 11 | 8 | 32 | ||
| 2004 | 21 | 7 | 28 | ||
| 2005 | Brisbane Broncos |
19 | 11 | 44 | |
| 2006 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 42 | |
| 2007 | 19 | 12 | 48 | ||
| 2008 | 14 | 7 | 28 | ||
| 2009 | 18 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 2011 | 17 | 8 | 32 | ||
| 2012 | 18 | 5 | 20 | ||
| 2013 | 14 | 6 | 24 | ||
| 2014 | 17 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2015 | 20 | 3 | 12 | ||
| Totals | 251 | 99 | 1 | 398 |
