Only Cameron Smith could edge him out for Dally M Hooker of the Year last season, but Canberra star Josh Hodgson is happy to play at lock.
With Josh Papalii missing the past two matches through suspension, coach Ricky Stuart has started Hodgson at lock with bench hooker Kurt Baptiste playing at dummy-half.
“Maybe I’m doing too many weights, Sticky thinks I’m a front-rower,” Hodgson joked.
But Hodgson is unsure whether the tactic will continue with Papalii returning to the back row for Saturday night’s clash with the Sharks.
“It’s just what’s best for the team at the moment. We had Papa out and we had Sia out,” Hodgson said.
“By having me at lock and Kurt start at No. 9, that gives us the luxury of having four middles on the bench and a bit of impact coming on there.
“I’m not sure what’s going to go on this week with Papa back but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
It wasn’t completely new to Hodgson who is sometimes used at lock when Baptiste comes off the bench rather than a straight swap.
He rates the experiment as a success.
“I don’t think it was a case of too many playmakers,” Hodgson said.
“Rather than having Kurt on the bench and then maybe coming on for 20 minutes before half-time, we can bring a middle on that’s fresh and make an impact.”