Two beers and then a screamer – Trent Hodkinson continues to tick all the boxes.
Such was the desire of the NSW Blues’ match winner to back up for his struggling Canterbury teammates on Friday night that he limited his drought-breaking State of Origin celebrations to “just a couple” beers.
His Bulldogs teammates will be grateful he did, too, with Hodkinson overcoming a serious cork to star alongside NSW halves partner Josh Reynolds in the 22-14 NRL win over Canberra – snapping a three game losing streak in the process.
The duo played a pivotal role in all four of the Bulldogs’ tries, highlighted when Hodkinson chased down his own kick to force an error, and then a try, at the expense of Raiders fullback Reece Robinson.
Hodkinson was given right up until the 7.45pm kick-off to prove his fitness, and was only flown down from Sydney hours before the game.
While it’s no news flash that many athletes in the professional era don’t celebrate with beers as carefree as they use to, Hodkinson surely earned himself a leave pass after scoring the series winning try that ended the Maroons’ record eight year dynasty on Wednesday night.
But that was never an option for rugby league’s newest unlikely hero, who funnily enough, only got a gig in the Blues No.7 jersey after Mitchell Pearce’s fateful visit to Kings Cross.
“I eased up on the (Origin) celebrations because I came out with a pretty sore cork,” he said.
“I had a couple (beers), but not too many.
“I just wanted to play.
“So I took the ice machine home, smashed it and stretched, and it came up good.”
Reynolds on the other hand didn’t get as much sleep after their Origin win, but then again, he didn’t have an injury to overcome.
“I was a bit excited obviously,” Reynolds said.
“We bonded a bit after the game with the boys.
“But to tell you the truth, tonight I was so excited to play again.
“I was a little bit (sore) … but I felt like a little kid out there again.”
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler acknowledged the growth in both players’ confidence since being thrust into the Origin deep-end.
“That’s the character of both boys,” he said.
“They were really keen to play and pulled it off extremely well.”
The duo will now finally get a hard earned rest, with the fourth-placed Bulldogs treating themselves to a bye next weekend.