Friday Interview - Brett Hodgson: Hodgson's heart still with the Giants for showdown

An embarrassing motley bunch of comical shapes and sizes, it did not realistically depict a true Yorkshire amateur rugby league team mainly due to some terrible acting.

But the Colne Valley village in which much of the supposedly heart-warming drama was set has certainly played its part in ensuring one of Super League's finest imports is hanging around a little longer.

Australian Brett Hodgson takes his Huddersfield Giants side into action at Warrington tomorrow admitting England has surpassed all his expectations.

"We've enjoyed it more than we ever thought we would," he told the Yorkshire Post.

"My wife and children love it over here and they don't want to go home for the next couple of years.

"We live in Slaithwaite, a lovely place up in the countryside around Huddersfield.

"Driving along all the country lanes seeing all the animals and all those green fields, it's nicer for them than where we live back home.

"It's relaxing and a great spot for us. It was an easy decision to stay on."

The only downside – for Giants fans, at least – is that the classy full-back is not staying on at Huddersfield.

Hodgson, 32, announced in May that he will be joining Warrington on a two-year deal next season, which makes tomorrow evening's contest all the more fascinating.

If Giants lose the elimination play-off, his next game will be for the Wolves next year; if they win, Hodgson is within 80 minutes of taking his current club to a maiden Grand Final.

"Potentially, I've got three more games to look forward to," said the former New South Wales Origin star.

"I'm not going to worry about it maybe being my last game or about it being against Warrington.

"It's pretty irrelevant and I know there's 16 other guys who really don't give a rats about where I'm going next year.

"I'm making sure I do my best to help the Giants to reach the 'second semi-final' in the club's history."

They made their first last Saturday by scraping past Crusaders 18-12, winning their first play-off contest and putting to bed the dark memories of their dismal season finale last year.

Then, soon after losing the Challenge Cup final to Warrington, they were defeated by St Helens and Catalans to see a season of excellent work ruined.

But, after their victory against the Welsh club, Hodgson is confident they can progress further and extend an impressive six-match winning run.

"This year it feels different and definitely much better," he said.

"Last time, Kev (Brown) was out injured and a few others but now we're flying and everyone is fit to the extent there's a couple of selection headaches for Nathan Brown.

"I feel we're heading in the right direction. Along with Hull KR, we're the sides playing pretty good football.

"We were quite poor against Crusaders and they are probably feeling a bit unlucky they're not here preparing themselves.

"They outplayed us for 70 per cent of that game but a couple of moments of quality and a bit of luck got us to this stage; now we have some momentum."

Hodgson knows all about what that can do for a side chasing a Grand Final.

In 2005, he was part of the Wests Tigers outfit that stunned the NRL by winning from fourth and he admits to sensing similarities among his current crew.

Warrington, though, having lost at St Helens a week ago, will be a formidable hurdle. They have won all three meetings this year, including a 60-4 rout at the Galpharm on the way to retaining the Challenge Cup.

Arresting a pack including the towering presence of Adrian Morley – yesterday short-listed with Wigan duo Sam Tomkins and Pat Richards as potential winners of Hodgson's Man of Steel crown – will be crucial.

"Down the middle is definitely where we have to be strong," said Hodgson, with prop Keith Mason's return from a three-match suspension proving timely.

"Their big men lay a wonderful foundation for their outside backs to play off and in every big game you need to win the battle in the middle.

"That's the key for us – our pack to perform to let Robbo (Luke Robinson), Kev Brown, Broughy and myself to play some attacking rugby."

Hodgon's creative skills have underpinned much of Huddersfield's improvements over the last two seasons and his experience, flair and – perhaps most pertinently – goal-kicking prowess are some of the reasons Tony Smith moved to entice him away.

However, Warrington's current full-back, Richard Mathers, who secured a move to Castleford once he knew of Hodgson's planned arrival, has thrived in recent weeks, raising some questions whether it was wise to allow the younger Englishman to depart.

"He has been playing some very good football," admitted his rival, diplomatically.

"He's another one of those threats we'll have to nullify and it is a difficult position for both of us but we'll each get on with it.

"I've only spoken once with Tony since it was announced and he's left me alone, too.

"We've both been respectful of each other's position.

"I'm just focused on doing whatever is necessary to get us through to next week.

"As an Australian coming over here to play Super League, this is the pinnacle.

"It is huge, probably more so than the Challenge Cup. You battle more than 40 weeks of the year, week in, week out to ultimately take the Championship.

"I hold it in the highest esteem and it's a real challenge for

us but we've got the opportunity."