Hodkinson's history lesson helping Bulldogs unlock attack
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Former Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson is confident a lesson from his playing days holds the key to unlocking the halves partnership of Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton.
Hodkinson is the last man to lead Canterbury to a decider, his side ultimately falling to the Rabbitohs in the 2014 grand final.
The Bulldogs entered this year with lofty expectations after a top-four finish last season but have struggled for consistency throughout the early rounds.
Back-to-back losses have brought the combination of Galvin and Burton into the spotlight. While Galvin starred in a Round 6 win over Penrith, the pair have largely struggled to find their stride this season.
Bulldogs v Panthers - Round 6, 2026
That is despite a full summer together following Galvin’s mid-year arrival in 2025.
Hodkinson experienced a similar situation during his career, when he was moved on to accommodate Moses Mbye’s transition into the halves in 2015.
The change left the Bulldogs without a ball-dominant playmaker and Hodkinson fears the current team is in a similar situation.
“It reminds me of 2015, when it was myself, Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye,” Hodkinson said. “Three couldn’t go into two and I got pushed out of the club. I truly believe Moses and Josh are two five-eighths.
“It’s a similar situation now. Lachie’s been playing seven and he played a really good game the other week but I feel [Galvin and Burton] are similar players. Toby Sexton was a genuine seven and you’ve got Sean O’Sullivan there who’s a genuine seven.
“I’m not the coach and Ciro gets paid the money to make the decisions but I’d like to see either young Mitchell Woods or a genuine seven. We had Woodsy in the NSW Under 19s team, I haven’t seen him too much the last six to eight months with how he’s going physically but maybe he’d be more than capable of stepping up.
“With the Dogs at the moment, they’ve just got to find their groove. Galvin showed he could do it against Penrith so he’s just got to be a little bit more consistent.”
Match: Bulldogs v Cowboys
Round 9 -
home Team
Bulldogs
10th Position
away Team
Cowboys
8th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
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Canterbury's chance to return to form comes on Friday night when they host the Cowboys at Accor Stadium in the opening game of Round 9.
Hodkinson was speaking at the launch of the NRL’s Kick for a Cause campaign, with the league hoping to raise $1 million for kids cancer patients.
The former halfback continues to commit time to community initiatives, while he is also on the coaching staff of the NSW Under 19 side.
SOO 2 Magic Moment: NSW v QLD
Hodkinson has experienced first-hand what it takes to taste success in the NRL and said a club’s fortunes typically hinge on the ability of the halfback and five-eighth to combine.
Some teams effectively play with two halfbacks, one on each side of the field. Others use a ball-dominant No.7 who carries most of the playmaking duties, with a running No.6 who can pick his spots.
While the modern game has evolved considerably throughout the past decade, Hodkinson said the most successful teams still have a clear differentiation between their halfback and five-eighth.
“They’re unique positions,” Hodkinson said. “You’ve got to have one dominant half and that guy steers the team around the field.
“They’re similar at times but they’re still separate positions. You’ve got a seven, a halfback, and a six, a five-eighth. As much as they’re considered to be similar, they’re still very different.”
The development of emerging playmakers has been a central topic of discussion in recent weeks as coaches and former players debate the merits of throwing a young half into first grade verses letting them develop in NSW Cup.
Interim Manly coach Kieran Foran has resisted the urge to select Joey Walsh, instead allowing him to steer the ship in reserve grade.
Dragons caretaker coach Dean Young went for a different approach with Kade Reed, picking him for an NRL debut in last week’s Anzac Day clash with the Roosters.
No try but what a first touch for Reed
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo faces a similar dilemma with 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, with Andrew Johns recently calling for the youngster to step into the No.7 jersey.
Woods has battled a hamstring injury suffered in the pre-season and is yet to take to the field this year.
Hodkinson made his NRL debut as a 21-year-old and said sometimes the only way to know if a player is ready is to throw them into the deep end.
“You watch them closely at training, you have a solid pre-season and work them hard against the bodies you’ve got, the big forwards,” Hodkinson said. “Ultimately you probably don’t know until you give them a crack and get them out there.
“Then they’ve just got to figure it out themselves. I’m sure there’s plenty of eyes at the Dogs and at multiple clubs that know when these young fellas are ready to make the step.
“It’s exciting, there’s some good talented young halves coming through and I’m excited to see how they all go.”
