He was the forgotten man of 2012 who contemplated retirement, now Trent Hodkinson is set to cap off a remarkable return to the NRL by leading Canterbury as captain in Sunday's grand final.
With skipper Michael Ennis at very long odds to overcome two fractured bones in his foot in time for the premiership decider, it is understood Hodkinson could captain the Bulldogs for what will be their second grand final in three years. It's an incredible achievement for a player who two years ago was considering hanging up the boots after missing Canterbury's run to the grand final in 2012 through injury.
Now he's an Origin-winning halfback and may well just be 80 minutes away from becoming a premiership-winning captain. When Ennis didn't return to the field in the second half of Saturday's preliminary final against Penrith, Hodkinson assumed the skipper duties despite James Graham and co-captain Frank Pritchard being on the field at the same time.
Hodkinson admits sitting on the sidelines through his side's dominant season caused him to contemplate retirement.
"I was questioning it," Hodkinson said about his chances of returning to the NRL. "I was pretty close to hanging up the boots to be honest. It was tough times but I had a lot of people around me, the support of the coaching staff and my fiancée Chantelle. It's definitely helped having positivity around me, kept me keen to stay there which was nice, and it's so pleasing to come back and finally make the grand final."
Josh Reynolds and Kris Keating were the halves that led Canterbury to the grand final in 2012, ending in heartache after a loss to Melbourne. Hodkinson admitted the pain of missing the 2012 grand final only makes this year's achievements all that more special.
"I'm very excited to be out there this time with the boys," Hodkinson said.
"I missed out. Hopefully we'll be on the other end of the scoreboard this time. I'd done my medial early, grade three, and then I'd dislocated my shoulder and torn the tendon in my other shoulder. I had two shoulder surgeries six weeks apart and medial that kept me out for about 8 or 9 weeks. It was a tough year. That was when I was at my darkest that year.
"Obviously with everything with the boys going into the grand final it was harder as well but in saying that I was stoked for them at the same time. I was that happy for them but hopefully we can get the win this time."
