Former Catalans backrower Elliot Whitehead has just won the Mazda BT-50 "Tough Man of the Match" award for his performance for Canberra against South Sydney. Canberra won 54-4. Elliot Whitehead scored two tries, one of them after taking a pass brilliantly one handed while reaching back for it and running at full speed. The commentators were dumbstruck by this feat of athletic prowess. Elliot Whitehead completely outplayed the much vaunted Samuel Burgess. Furthermore he tackled like a demon.

Mr Whitehead's compatriot Joshua Hodgson also did very well at hooker.

Just looked at the league table and noticed there are only two Sydney clubs in the top 10 of the NRL

Pah, it's even worse in SL. Not one Sydney club made the top 8.

Canberra Reserves are struggling too.

Josh Hodgson having a stormer against Cronulla today. Set up this try for Rapana https://twitter.com/nrl/status/761835832290324480

Josh Hodgson having a stormer against Cronulla today. Set up this try for Rapana https://twitter.com/nrl/status/761835832290324480

As I've said before, should be first name on Bennett's team-sheet.

Could we have an English Dally M winner? Has it happened before?

Think he's fallen a bit off the pace in the last month, would be the first though.

Hodgson is a way better bet than Roby or anyone else now. He does have the odd brainsnap but when he plays with control he's a superb hooker.

It seems Hodgson is also capable of the full 80 minutes which is the way i would like to see us go for once with a huge set of of 4 on the bench rotation to keep the Aussie and Kiwi packs on the back foot throughout.

Agree. I would be looking at 3 big props plus someone who can cover the back row and centre like Whitehead, Hughes, Currie or Bateman.

When he played for us we used to bring on a replacement hooker but Josh used to stay on more often than not and play SR

When Baptiste has been fit he's been rotated into a roaming centre field role. Tell you what, for a guy who's not so big Hodgson doesn't mind running the ball at big men.

Always thought he was underrated at Hull KR, at first by the rovers supporters then by opposition supporters.. When he came from Hull, his first couple of seasons was steady but there were a lot of supporters who used to slate him(No one will admit to that now though). Always ran at the big men and had a knack at spotting a gap from dummy half (like any good hooker should). Would have loved to have kept him at Rovers and i'm really happy that he is playing so well in Australia.

How are the 3 Burgii at Souths getting on? I don't follow the NRL closely enough, but last I read, none of them are playing that well this year? I assume only Sam likely to make the 4N squad?

ATM Cam Smith is the only hooker in the world better than Hodgson. He's got to be the first name on Bennett's team sheet.

Burgess' have been ordinary this year. Sam's trying, but he looks completely knackered and in need of a rest. They want to offload Tom which says it all, and George is way down on form compared to last year.

Burgesses have been crappie most of the year. With ball retention being the biggest issue. Sam especially has been very loose with the ball on the ground.

The last game golden point loss was the best I've seen Sam play this year.

I don't remember him getting slated by the fans he was back up hooker at first with him been a young kid when he came but he was a stand out player for at least the last 3 seasons He played for us

FYI.

Wayne Bennett called all the English NRL based players together for a chat and a meeting a couple of months ago.

How about Cooper & Graham?

He was getting slated by some fans the season after Ben fisher left us. When Blake Green was out because of the blood clot he did some work for Hull KR TV. He used to do interviews with players and asking questions which fans put forward via social media. There were some negative questions asked about the way Hodgson played which he an Green shrugged off but you could tell he was annoyed by them. There are probably some old posts on here or the other forum where people have slated him also. I'm not making it up and I have a good memory if I say so myself.

Cooper looks a very solid NRL forward nowadays. Graham is probably less of a 'star' than he was a few years ago, but that's mainly because the Dogs have stopped trying to use him as a major playmaker. It worked for a year but once other sides worked it out the Dogs have reverted to using the halfbacks again. Graham does however make a lot of yards and tackles and leads from the front.

As for the Burgii - Sam really looks like he needs a rest followed by an off season focused on rebuilding his power. Tom has been so-so and George has barley played through injury.

the biggest worry for England ATM is Widdopp. He just looks awful. How much is down to him and how much down to playing in an awful team under a poor coach isn't clear, but he really looks like the 2016 version of Ben Walker - looks the part, kicks goals but creates precisely nothing.

That's the current England scrum half's job.

Widdop class today.

He was better today; but I'd certainly not say class. He actually played better in a beaten side last week. Unfortunately though, these 2 half decent performances have followed 10 weeks of absolute anonymous gash. These last 2 weeks have been his best of the year, hopefully the upward trend continues and he's firing come the 4 Nations - I highly doubt it though, and fully expect a revert back to bang average for the next few weeks.

Alternatively you've invested far to much to give him any merited credit.
Thought he was vey good in most aspects yesterday.