Promoted to captain alongside Jarrod Croker this season, Josh Hodgson showed his class and leadership to help the Raiders reach the Grand Final for the first time since 1994.
From Hull hothead to Raiders ringleader
The hooker guided the side around the park with his passing, kicking and perhaps most famously his ability to strip the ball.
The English international completed 13 one on one steals which was easily the most in the NRL. The next best was Melbourne’s Brandon Smith with five for the season.
However, there was plenty more to Hodgson’s game in 2019 than one on one strips as his long kicking game in particular helped the side start sets well. The hooker found open space with his long range kicks on 30 occasions which was the second most across the NRL.
The 30 year old had a solid start to the 2019 season but a broken thumb that he sustained in Round 11 against the Cowboys saw him miss three rounds.
After his return against the Eels in Darwin, Hodgson hit top form in the following game against the Dragons. Hodgson set up three tries which sparked a run of form that saw him set up nine tries in eight games.
Josh Hodgson: 100 Raiders games
The hooker had a massive game against the Rabbitohs in the Preliminary Final as he made 48 tackles and helped create a try with an excellent grubber that allowed Croker to score.
Hodgson finished the season playing for the Great Britain Lions, scoring a try against the Kiwis in the process.