MOST NRL players reluctantly returned to pre-season training last week and have come to the realisation the festive season is well and truly over.
This weekend their feet would be up as they prepare for their first full week back at training in 2017.
Former Manly hooker Jayden Hodges would kill to be amongst them.
“It’s pretty tough, being unemployed without a contract and without a team,” Hodges told foxsports.com.au.
“As a player you just miss being on the field. I miss tackling, I miss passing, I miss kicking.
“I just miss being in a team and mixing it up with the boys.”
Instead Hodges is doing it alone.
The Manly discard returned to his hometown of Cairns before Christmas to be with his family as he keeps his desperate bid for an NRL contract alive.
“I was waiting in Sydney for an NRL opportunity and the waiting game was just a bit tough, especially being away from family,” the 23-year-old said.
“It’ll mean everything to me getting another opportunity. It’s what I want.
“I know how hard the (NRL) boys are working so I’ve tried to just emulate that while I’m up here.
“It’s good coming up here and doing my own little pre-season.”
The 23-year-old welcomed the New Year with open arms after enduring the toughest 12 months of his life.
He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the Auckland Nines in February last year — ending his 2016 NRL campaign before it began.
“I had a little sulk ... threw a little a tantrum,” Hodges revealed.
“Every day is a battle around that time. The days seem to go longer ... and they go slower.
“You can get into a really negative headspace.
“The head noise was definitely there.”
If a season-ending injury wasn’t already hard enough to deal with, being told by Manly he was unwanted in 2017 cut the former Sea Eagle to his core.
It was a bitter pill for Hodges to swallow — and there was nothing he could do about it.
“It was really tough, I’m not going to lie,” Hodges said.
“To not be able to play and even get on the field and show them what you can do and impress at least other clubs.”
Almost 12 months on from the worst injury of his career, Hodges wants a second crack in the greatest game of all — and he remains hopeful he’ll get it.
His manager Isaac Moses is in talks with several clubs pitching his client’s case.
Hodges revealed 2016 premiers Cronulla have shown interest in him.
The 23-year-old’s potential move to the Shire was halted though when speculation mounted that the Sharks were trying to snare James Segeyaro, who walked out on his super league club Leeds.
“I had a good meeting with Flanno (Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan) but obviously they’re trying to get Chicko (James Segeyaro). He’s been linked to the club,” Hodges said.
“If they don’t get him they’d be interested.
“(We’ve had) talks with a couple of other clubs, but that’s all it is, it’s just talks.
“I’m pretty confident that I’ll get something. I’ve just got to be patient.”
At just 23, not only is age on Hodges’ side, so is his pedigree — he’s the cousin of Brisbane, Queensland and Kangaroos great Justin Hodges.
But the main thing Hodges wants to stress to his suitors is his new-found approach and appreciation of life and the game he loves.
“I just believe it made me a better football player going through this experience,” Hodges said.
“This year I had an awesome opportunity to still learn the game and look at it from a different perspective. To see it from the sideline and learn. Just watching a game and picking up on little things you don’t necessarily see while you’re in a game.
“I’ve still got a few good years left. I’m only 23 and I feel like I haven’t even started to scratch the surface with what I can do.
“If I’m in the right team I can be a dominate player in the NRL. That’s just the way I feel and what I believe I can do.
“I’ve got a new confidence about myself.”
Hodges will remain in Cairns until he receives a call from an NRL coach willing to give him another go.
If interest from top tier clubs doesn’t come, Hodges knows he’ll have to consider returning to the Queensland Intrust Super Cup or the English Super League to keep his rugby league career alive.
“Ideally I want a first grade contract and be in the (NRL) system still,” he said.
“I’d love to go overseas. I’d love to go and see the world. I’ll just take it as it comes and play the cards I’ve been dealt.”
This weekend their feet would be up as they prepare for their first full week back at training in 2017.
Former Manly hooker Jayden Hodges would kill to be amongst them.
“It’s pretty tough, being unemployed without a contract and without a team,” Hodges told foxsports.com.au.
“As a player you just miss being on the field. I miss tackling, I miss passing, I miss kicking.
“I just miss being in a team and mixing it up with the boys.”
Instead Hodges is doing it alone.
The Manly discard returned to his hometown of Cairns before Christmas to be with his family as he keeps his desperate bid for an NRL contract alive.
“I was waiting in Sydney for an NRL opportunity and the waiting game was just a bit tough, especially being away from family,” the 23-year-old said.
“It’ll mean everything to me getting another opportunity. It’s what I want.
“I know how hard the (NRL) boys are working so I’ve tried to just emulate that while I’m up here.
“It’s good coming up here and doing my own little pre-season.”
The 23-year-old welcomed the New Year with open arms after enduring the toughest 12 months of his life.
He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the Auckland Nines in February last year — ending his 2016 NRL campaign before it began.
“I had a little sulk ... threw a little a tantrum,” Hodges revealed.
“Every day is a battle around that time. The days seem to go longer ... and they go slower.
“You can get into a really negative headspace.
“The head noise was definitely there.”
If a season-ending injury wasn’t already hard enough to deal with, being told by Manly he was unwanted in 2017 cut the former Sea Eagle to his core.
It was a bitter pill for Hodges to swallow — and there was nothing he could do about it.
“It was really tough, I’m not going to lie,” Hodges said.
“To not be able to play and even get on the field and show them what you can do and impress at least other clubs.”
Almost 12 months on from the worst injury of his career, Hodges wants a second crack in the greatest game of all — and he remains hopeful he’ll get it.
His manager Isaac Moses is in talks with several clubs pitching his client’s case.
Hodges revealed 2016 premiers Cronulla have shown interest in him.
The 23-year-old’s potential move to the Shire was halted though when speculation mounted that the Sharks were trying to snare James Segeyaro, who walked out on his super league club Leeds.
“I had a good meeting with Flanno (Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan) but obviously they’re trying to get Chicko (James Segeyaro). He’s been linked to the club,” Hodges said.
“If they don’t get him they’d be interested.
“(We’ve had) talks with a couple of other clubs, but that’s all it is, it’s just talks.
“I’m pretty confident that I’ll get something. I’ve just got to be patient.”
At just 23, not only is age on Hodges’ side, so is his pedigree — he’s the cousin of Brisbane, Queensland and Kangaroos great Justin Hodges.
But the main thing Hodges wants to stress to his suitors is his new-found approach and appreciation of life and the game he loves.
“I just believe it made me a better football player going through this experience,” Hodges said.
“This year I had an awesome opportunity to still learn the game and look at it from a different perspective. To see it from the sideline and learn. Just watching a game and picking up on little things you don’t necessarily see while you’re in a game.
“I’ve still got a few good years left. I’m only 23 and I feel like I haven’t even started to scratch the surface with what I can do.
“If I’m in the right team I can be a dominate player in the NRL. That’s just the way I feel and what I believe I can do.
“I’ve got a new confidence about myself.”
Hodges will remain in Cairns until he receives a call from an NRL coach willing to give him another go.
If interest from top tier clubs doesn’t come, Hodges knows he’ll have to consider returning to the Queensland Intrust Super Cup or the English Super League to keep his rugby league career alive.
“Ideally I want a first grade contract and be in the (NRL) system still,” he said.
“I’d love to go overseas. I’d love to go and see the world. I’ll just take it as it comes and play the cards I’ve been dealt.”
