RISING Giants star Elliot Hodgson has signed a three-year Super League contract.
The 18-year-old Reserve Team Championship full-back shot to fame on the back of a man-of-the-match performance on his senior debut in the narrow defeat at St Helens in front of the Sky TV cameras just three weeks ago.
News of the Hodgson deal comes just two days after fellow reserve side winger Alex Brown agreed a one-year full-time contract with the club.
The 22-year-old also made his Super League debut at Saints last month and picked up the ‘Reserve Team Player of the Year’ at the club’s end-of-season dinner.
At the same time, former Victoria Rangers amateur player Hodgson collected the Giants’ ‘Academy Team Player of the Year’.
And head coach Nathan Brown is looking forward to working with such a talented youngster.
“It’s exciting for the club and for Elliot,” said Brown.
“To have one of the local players come through is always a bonus.
“Elliot has a long way to go before he becomes a Super League player, but he has already shown he’s definitely got the ability.
“In the short time I’ve been here he has definitely shown the work ethic and the ability to want to take things on board and learn.
“He’s a player with a great attitude and if he keeps working hard he could become a long-term player at this club.”
As well as representing Yorkshire at rugby league, Hodgson has played for Yorkshire and the North of England at rugby union.
But he admits it’s always been his dream to play in Super League.
“This is fantastic news. It’s my dream, and I can’t wait to start full-time training,” he said.
“I got my first taste of Super League action at Saints last month and loved every minute of it. It gave me a lot of confidence and I can’t wait to play at that level regularly.”
