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Another Hodges to debut for NQ Cowboys by Gavin Broomhead 29 August 2013
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orthern Pride has once again proven itself as a club capable of developing NRLcalibre talent after former Pride Academy product Jayden Hodges was today named to make his NRL debut this weekend with the North Queensland Cowboys. Hodges, 19, who is the cousin of Australian Kangaroos, Queensland Maroons and Brisbane Broncos star Justin, has been named on the interchange bench by Cowboys coach Neil Henry for his side’s game at Cronulla Sharks this Sunday. The Cairns youngster played all of his junior football for the Cairns Kangaroos and Pride Academy, including a season in the Cairns District Rugby League A-Grade competition with Roos before signing with the Cowboys in 2011. Hodges, who plays hooker, has played 30 matches in the Under 20s competition for the Cowboys, including all 22 so far in 2013. He leads the NYC in most tackles made, highlighted by 58 against the Brisbane Broncos in round six, and is also top three for the Cowboys in try assists, linebreaks, linebreak assists, tackle breaks and offloads. Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Brock Schaefer said Hodges’ selection with the Cowboys was yet another example of the pathways the Pride creates for its players. “No other sport or club in North Queensland can show the pathway the Pride creates for players and coaches from the region,” Schaefer
said. “This is just another great example of the opportunities we create for people within our great club, and once again proves you don’t have to leave North Queensland to earn a crack at the big time. “Jayden came through our Academy system and fully deserves this opportunity to impress at NRL level. “He’s very good out of dummy half, a strong player and a great defender, has a good pass and vision, and is very evasive with the ball in hand. “I’m confident all Cowboys fans will be excited with what Jayden will offer them this weekend, and everyone at the Pride is very proud of his achievements.”
Schaefer said it was another great outcome for the Intrust Super Cup minor premiers, which includes: • Pride players currently in the North Queensland Cowboys U20s side • Joel Riethmuller, Ethan Lowe and a number of other locals in NRL squads • Pride full-back and Yarrabah product Hezron Murgha signing a two-year deal with the Cowboys • Pride’s Cowboys-allocated players impressing when chosen for the NRL (e.g. Wayne Ulugia, Kyle Feldt). “We continually show that we’re all about creating opportunities for promising locals – and we have the evidence to back it up,” Schaefer added. Page 1