TIGERS v STORM
BRETT HODGSON admits he is emotional about playing his last game at Campbelltown Stadium tonight, but rather than hope Wests Tigers can defeat Melbourne as a testimonial for him, the skipper has urged his teammates to play for precious premiership points.
"We have to stand up and be counted," Hodgson said yesterday. "The ante has been upped as far as the value of a win is concerned at this stage of the season. Teams are making their runs towards the finals. Look at Friday night's games - Gold Coast got an upset win over the Roosters and Newcastle did the same against Penrith.
"Every year at Wests Tigers we've got the potential to make the finals, but we haven't made it since we won the premiership [in 2005]. Every game is a big game for us from now on."
At the start of the round, the Tigers were in 10th spot behind Penrith and Parramatta, who were both subsequently beaten. If the Tigers can cause an upset against the premiership favourites, they will move into eighth spot.
"We've got a plan," Hodgson said. "If they've got a weakness - even if it's just a minor one - then we can send our attention towards it. But the bottom line is that we've got to maximise our possession and our opportunities.
"The Storm have got nine players who took part in the State of Origin series and they're still not far out of that. Potentially, they could still be a bit weary and perhaps not at their best, but we have to go into this game believing that they are going to be at their best, or we're going to be asking for trouble."
The Tigers butchered a great opportunity in their most recent game, against the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval. They were hot favourites but didn't switch on until it was too late. The Warriors held on to win 28-26 after Hodgson missed a conversion attempt from the sideline with seconds remaining.
Hodgson admits the loss had a devastating effect. "We were shattered after that game," he said. "It was a very disappointing day and the bye we had last weekend came at a good time, because it gave us the chance to regroup and we probably needed that.
"We know what we're capable of, but we need to show it against Melbourne."
Hodgson, 30, will join English club Huddersfield on a two-year contract at the end of the season. He made his first-grade debut for Western Suburbs at Campbelltown Stadium in 1997 and says it will be hard for him to say goodbye.
"The finish of my career at Wests Tigers is not far away and I'm thinking about that," he said. "I've had a great time at the club. It's going to be difficult for me to leave and I'd really love to have one more crack at the finals with the boys before I go."