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The rugby league 'legend' inspiring Andrew Kellaway
By AAP
Wallabies' assistant coach Brett Hodgson has kept a notably low profile at the World Cup but he's made a big impact on fullback-turned-fan-boy Andrew Kellaway.
Australia's defence coach hasn't fronted the media in France since a brief zoom call last month but Kellaway has been picking the brains of the former NRL star.
Hodgson started his career with Western Suburbs back in 1997, spent four seasons with Parramatta and then returned to the joint-venture Wests Tigers for a further five years before shifting his career to the UK.
Of diminutive stature, Hodgson was the 2005 Dally M fullback of the year, the leading point-scorer as the Wests Tigers came from nowhere to win the premiership that year.
He scored two tries in Parramatta's losing 2001 grand final against Newcastle while he is also famous for getting rag-dolled over the sideline by Maroons enforcer Gorden Tallis when he made his State of Origin debut in 2002.
Kellaway grew up in the inner west and is a big fan of Hodgson, now 45, and the Wests Tigers.
"He was a little fella with a big heart, he had a crack," 27-year-old Kellaway said of Hodgson's playing days.
"He's a Wests Tigers legend - he's been awesome - he's played in big games, plays the same position as I do so on a personal note, I found him incredibly useful.
"I didn't watch a heap of league growing up but I'm a Wests Tigers fan, so any Wests Tigers people coming into camp is a bit of a morale boost."
Hodgson ended up at Parramatta when Western Suburbs and Balmain merged ahead of the 2000 season, leaving as a way of staying loyal to late Magpies great and then coach Tommy Raudonikis who initially resisted the change.
Kellaway joked Hodgson must still carry the scars because he wouldn't sign his Balmain jersey.
"I've got my Tigers jersey back at the hotel but he refused to sign it cause it's Balmain Tigers and he's Wests Magpies technically."
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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