The RFL

Winger David Hodgson is among the famous five anxiously waiting for Great Britain coach Tony Smith to reveal his team for Saturday’s third Gillette Fusion Test against New Zealand.

With the series safely in the bag, courtesy of Britain’s record 44-0 second-Test win at Hull, Smith is considering whether to give the five unused players in his 25-strong squad a run-out at the JJB Stadium.

Hodgson, who recently completed his move from relegated Salford City Reds to Huddersfield Giants, is one of three specialist wingers at Smith’s disposal but lost out to Gareth Raynor and Ade Gardner in the initial selection.

And, with the first-choice wingmen hardly putting a foot wrong in the first two games, Hodgson knows he faces a difficult task to force his way into the side.

“I’ve a lot of respect for the wingers,” he said. “They are two great players. It’s always hard in the Great Britain set-up to get a game.”

Hodgson, who has just three caps to his name, demonstrated his commitment to international rugby a year ago when he played in back-to-back matches on either side of the world.

The 26-year-old scored two tries in the Lions’ 40-6 victory in a Tri-Nations warm-up match against a Newcastle XIII in New South Wales and, after making the 12,000-mile flight back to this country, helped England to a 40-18 over Tonga in the Federation Shield.

Hodgson’s engage Super League season finished on September 14 but he kept his fitness up by playing for the Northern Union in last month’s centenary international against the All Golds and says he is ready to step in if required on Saturday.

“I’ve kept on top of my fitness,” he said. “We’ve been doing a bit extra when the lads have been playing. I’m just waiting for a chance.

“You always want to play in the big games. It’s been good for the team to get 2-0 up and hopefully we can make it 3-0.”

Hodgson, who scored 43 tries in 109 Super League appearances for Wigan from 2000-04, would love nothing better than to run out at the JJB Stadium in front of his old fans, but will relish the occasion even if he is a spectator.

“It would be good to play on my old ground,” he said. “It’s an awesome stadium to play in.

“But I’m looking forward to the match no matter what happens because it will be a great Test. The Kiwis will come out wanting to prove something to themselves.”

• back