The last halfback to lead the Bulldogs to a grand final says he\u2019d like to see a genuine playmaker brought in to lead the team, with Trent Hodkinson calling on Sean O\u2019Sullivan or youngster Mitchell Woods to be given a shot in the No.7 jersey.<\/p>\n
Trent Hodkinson did some terrific things in the blue and white jersey, with the former NSW hero helping them reach the 2014 Grand Final just months after he and halves partner Josh Reynolds ended Queensland\u2019s State of Origin streak. <\/p>\n
The pair worked so well together because Hodkinson was the chief playmaker who controlled the game with his kicking which allowed Reynolds to play off the cuff.<\/p>\n
The partnership ended after the 2015 season when Hodkinson was squeezed out of the club, with the Bulldogs scoring the fewest points out of any top eight team in 2016 with Reynolds and Moses Mbye in the halves.<\/p>\n
Hodkinson has noticed something similar going on this season with Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton both five-eighths in his eyes which has seen them lack direction in attack and has led to them scoring the second-fewest points in the league. <\/p>\n
Immortal Andrew Johns has called for Galvin to shift to five-eighth, and Hodkinson agrees, calling on the experienced O\u2019Sullivan to play there, while Woods is also an option once he returns from injury. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt reminded me of 2015 when it was myself, Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye, and three couldn\u2019t go into two. I got pushed out of the club (but) I truly believe Moses and Josh were two five-eighths,\u201d he said, suggesting Galvin could also play lock. <\/p>\n
\u201c(It\u2019s a) similar situation now. I know Lachie\u2019s been playing seven and he played a really good game the other week (against Penrith) but I feel like they\u2019re very similar players. <\/p>\n
\u201cToby Sexton (who left the club last year) was a genuine seven, and you\u2019ve got O\u2019Sullivan there who\u2019s a genuine seven.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not the coach there and Ciraldo gets paid the big money to make the decisions, but I\u2019d even like to see young \u2018Woodsy\u2019. We had him last year in the 19s (Origin team) and he\u2019s a genuine seven. <\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t seen him too much the last 6-8 months with how he\u2019s going physically, but he\u2019d be more than capable to step up. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith the Dogs at the moment, they\u2019ve just got to find their groove. There might be a little bit of toing and froing at times, but I\u2019m confident Lachie showed that he could do it against Penrith, so he\u2019s just got to be a little bit more consistent in that way and see how they go. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe can also play lock \u2013 he\u2019s a big body as well \u2013 so we\u2019ll see how that pans out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some people will argue that the six and seven are simply numbers on the back of jerseys, but Hodkinson disagrees. <\/p>\n
\u201cI still think they\u2019re unique positions, I really do,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to have that one dominant half and that guy that steers them around the field. They\u2019re similar at times but I think they\u2019re still separate positions.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got a seven, a halfback, and you\u2019ve got a six, a five-eighth. As much as they\u2019re compared to being very similar, they\u2019re still very different in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woods turns 20 next month and there are doubts over whether he is ready for the NRL, but Hodkinson \u2013 who was part of the NSW under-19s Origin coaching staff \u2013 says the only way you can find out is by picking him. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou probably don\u2019t know until you give them a crack and get out there and then they\u2019ve just got to figure it out themselves,\u201d he said of young playmakers. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s plenty of eyes at the Dogs or at multiple clubs that know when these young fellas are ready to make the step. It\u2019s exciting, there are some really good, talented young halves coming through and I\u2019m excited to see how they all go.\u201d<\/p>\n