Giants skipper on national team squad snub

May 16 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

GIANTS skipper Brett Hodgson has revealed his disappointment at missing tomorrow’s home Super League clash against Salford (3.00) with a quad-muscle injury.

But he admits he was just as disappointed to find out none of his teammates had been named in England’s initial elite training squad.

Players from nine of the 12 English-based Super League clubs earned calls to Tony Smith’s 17-man squad.

But despite the Giants standing fourth in Super League and having just reached the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup, not one Huddersfield player got the England nod.

And in-form Australian goalkicking full-back Hodgson, who hopes to return at Wakefield next weekend, admits he feels sorry that some of his teammates were snubbed.

“I have to admit I was very surprised,” said Hodgson. “I’ve been impressed by the quality of the English players here, and the likes of Kev Brown, Scotty Moore and big Eorl (Crabtree) must have come very close.

“I suppose the one consolation is that there’s still time to be called up between now and the end of the season, so it’s something else for our players to aim towards.

“It’s just a case of making sure they continue to put their best feet forward and do what they can to help us maintain our League challenge.