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http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/mortimer-blasts-trent-hodkinson/
CANTERBURY legend Steve Mortimer says there are no excuses for Trent Hodkinson not performing in the grand final and that the Bulldogs and NSW halfback has got to make sure he learns from the experience.
Hodkinson went into the game still carrying a knee injury he sustained in the second week of the finals against Manly and was virtually non-existent in attack, but Mortimer says that if you go out there you are declaring yourself fit to play.
“I think the world of Trent Hodkinson as a player and as a person. I was so happy he got the NSW job,” Mortimer tells RLW.
“But there was a lack of creativity and direction for the Bulldogs in the grand final and as the halfback he has to take a lot of the responsibility for that.
“I thought at 6-0 down the game was still winnable for the Bulldogs. The defence from both teams was great. At 6-6 it was there to be won, but there was no setting up of players like Tim Lafai and Josh Morris out wide. We didn’t look threatening in the second half and the Rabbitohs ended up capitalising on that.
“The Bulldogs missed Michael Ennis at hooker, for sure, but (Bulldogs coach) Des Hasler was a halfback. He knows the importance of the seven and the six as far as being creators in attack is concerned, so he would have picked up on all of that.
“I know Trent’s knee wasn’t 100 per cent going into the game, but if you go out there then that’s no excuse.
“He has to learn from what happened in the grand final and I believe he will learn from it because he’s the sort of player who wants to be the best he can.”
CANTERBURY legend Steve Mortimer says there are no excuses for Trent Hodkinson not performing in the grand final and that the Bulldogs and NSW halfback has got to make sure he learns from the experience.
Hodkinson went into the game still carrying a knee injury he sustained in the second week of the finals against Manly and was virtually non-existent in attack, but Mortimer says that if you go out there you are declaring yourself fit to play.
“I think the world of Trent Hodkinson as a player and as a person. I was so happy he got the NSW job,” Mortimer tells RLW.
“But there was a lack of creativity and direction for the Bulldogs in the grand final and as the halfback he has to take a lot of the responsibility for that.
“I thought at 6-0 down the game was still winnable for the Bulldogs. The defence from both teams was great. At 6-6 it was there to be won, but there was no setting up of players like Tim Lafai and Josh Morris out wide. We didn’t look threatening in the second half and the Rabbitohs ended up capitalising on that.
“The Bulldogs missed Michael Ennis at hooker, for sure, but (Bulldogs coach) Des Hasler was a halfback. He knows the importance of the seven and the six as far as being creators in attack is concerned, so he would have picked up on all of that.
“I know Trent’s knee wasn’t 100 per cent going into the game, but if you go out there then that’s no excuse.
“He has to learn from what happened in the grand final and I believe he will learn from it because he’s the sort of player who wants to be the best he can.”
