Berrigan isn't worth another year after this, his body is struggling and he's hardly been the model professional we all expected. Hodgson is 19, he isn't even in the dawn of his career yet.

No doubt we'll be throwing money at an ageing aussie hooker in two years time, just as Hodgson celebrates his 21st with some silverware.

That is key.

His body has had a battering over the years and while there is no doubting he has been a true great in the aussie game he is clearly struggling over here and has had two major injuries in the two seasons he's been here.

That kind tells you something.

I could understand all the gloating from KR fans if it was Houghton who they'd got.
Hodgson is a decent player who could become even better, but then again he may not.
Good luck to him, but we can't keep everyone.

What a bizarre statement. Even if you vehemently abhor the fact that Hodgson has left the club WTF has that got to do with Whiting ? You think that we should have retained a reserve team hooker - a position where we have 2 other players + emergency cover - at the expense of signing a player next year who can cover 3 or 4 positions in the team some of them in the back line ? It's been bad enough with injuries in the past few years and you think a third or 4th choice hooker should have priority over an established utility player ? On that basis you'd be hoping we only had injuries to hookers next year.

Totally agree

Well said !

If Josh had left for any other club it would be a simple case of we have plenty of hookers and so he had to leave to further his career.
Dont listen to these Rovers fans bigging him up to be the next Danny Buderus just because he has signed for them.

What did you expect them to say "We have been screaming out for a world class Hooker all season and all Morgan brings us is FC's 4 choice.That Morgan gets worse!" I dont think so !!!

Having watched a lot of reserve rugby this season I liked the look of Josh but he was no better than Tommy or Danny and so felt he had to look elsewhere.

Think you might find that was Whiting's choice.

Edited for accuracy.

Hodgson may well go on to be the next big thing. Then again, he might not. The lower leagues are littered with players who excelled in their teens but never kicked on. Come to that, there are a few in SL.

Berrigan is contracted for the next two seasons. His injury situation might cut that short, but it's to early to make that decision. Getting rid of him now would be premature even if it were affordable. That left Hodgson with the prospect of being third choice Hooker for the next two years when he needs to be making the step up. That wouldn't have been an attractive option regardless of the money on offer.

I really don't see that the club had much in the way of choice here, and the outcome seems the sensible option for all parties concerned. It may not be ideal but then we don't live in an ideal world.

Whatever. I just go on what I've seen. Did I not say he could go on to become a very good player?.
Like I said, you can't keep everyone.

Josh isn't creative enough for me to be worried about this.

Pre-salary cap I would be annoyed but its not football were we can give him a contract then sell him on.

Good decision by the club for me.

Spot on. We got our selves into this mess by negotiating each contract as it came up without thinking of the bigger picture and ended up with god knows how many hookers , no scrum half and loads of utilities with varying lengths of contracts. Like many have said Hodgson has looked a capable footballer in the reserves but that doesn't mean he'll have an impact at SL level. He's a gamble and it may work for Josh and KR but it might not.

dont you realise it wasnt hulls decision for him to leave thecoaches are mortified hes gone and if he actually gets ago tomorrow at hooker u will see why having never been given achance at hooker dh is good but does he get teams panicking with ball in hand i think not watch this space hulls loss

I think it's a good move for Josh, and if it results in him becoming a world class hooker then hull will look back on it as a mistake, if not then they haven't lost anything.

But with people saying he's average at best blah blah blah, he's done something right to have a 13 page thread on here

Er Ive watched just about every reserve home game this year so please dont even go there !!!

Its only hit 13 pages because you got him...if he had gone any where else he wouldnt have hit 13 pages.

Read my earlier post. If he had gone anywhere else bar Rovers we would have already forgotten him !!

Not read through all the tripe but i can't wonder why Hull would let there best player this year from there academy leave to a rival

then sign 30 year olds?

Mind boggles

I wonder why Saint Helens have let there best player from their first team join a rival?

Jammer is going knowhere

except warrington.

er so have i and hes played out of position every week and still been reserves best plyer so what does that tell you

I truly think that some folk on here make statements about players they have very little or no knowledge of what-so-ever. Statements about Hodgeson being average make no sense when the kid has been the outstanding player in the reserves this season. Player of the year award to boot.

OK, it's reserve grade but always remember, they are playing against the "potential" SL players from other SL clubs. Players all of these clubs believe have some potential. All still learning, all still developing and he stood out in quite a few games this year. I would think the coaches at youth level will all be very sad the kid is leaving at this stage of his development.

I hear time and time again how much of a poor wage we offer these young kids. No wonder they choose pastures new. These young people are on full time contracts which means they cannot work in a normal way and basically have to rely on the wages offered by SL clubs. It aint much let me tell you. Money talks. Many of the current local lads are surprised when they hear tal;k of payments other clubs offer to some of their prospects.

Josh Hodgeson and Danny Houghton are different types of 9's imo. Houghton is much quicker around the ruck and gives momentum in this way especially impacting on the game. Hodgeson offers more variety from I have seen. I have seen Hodgeson take control of games when playing 9. He has the confidence to play on his initiative.

He might make it, he might not, many dont, but to say he's an average SL player when he's hardly been given a fair crack is nonsense.

If he leaves Saints for a rival, it's to Wigan. He's apparantly a fan.

Can see him coming off the bench in a hooking role for Rovers. I've not seen him much but when I have he's played backrow and looked promising (I know he was originally a hooker though). He should have had one more season, especially with our backrow really underperforming this year.
Also, slightly off topic, but I still dont get the big deal about Houghton. He is very average at passing and will always be a poor mans Higham imo. If he had gone to Rovers I wouldnt have been bothered at all

nice to know there are people on here that know there sport