Josh Hodgson has played his last game for the Canberra Raiders, with the hooker set to miss the remainder of the 2022 season after requiring surgery on his knee.

Hodgson injured his knee early in Canberra’s round one win over Cronulla and was initially diagnosed to miss between 2-4 weeks.

However, following further scans and assessment, Raiders Club Dr. Greg Macleod said the decision has been made for Hodgson to have surgery.

“Josh’s knee injury sustained in round one was a minor injury, however his return to training has since uncovered some instability in his knee which appears to have caused his current injury,” Dr. Macleod said.

“After further scans and diagnosis, the decision has been made that it’s the club’s duty of care to Josh for him to have an ACL reconstruction due to a partial tear in his ACL and associated injuries.”

“Whilst the club and Josh were optimistic that the injury could be rehabbed without surgery, it is with much considered thought that surgery is the best option for Josh’s long-term health and rugby league career.”

Hodgson said the injury was certainly not the way he’d hoped to finish his time on the field with the club and he would be forever grateful for the opportunity the Raiders had given him.

“It’s certainly not the way I wanted to finish up at Canberra. After a disappointing year last year, it was probably the best I’ve felt this year in terms of my body, and I was feeling really fit and really fresh after a good pre-season with no internationals and no rehab. To do it in such a minor way and sustain such a big injury is really frustrating,” Hodgson said.

“I’ve really found a home away from home here in Canberra and I absolutely love the place. It means as much to me as my hometown club and I’ll be forever grateful to call myself Raider number #325.

“I’m gutted to go out like this, but I’ll be doing everything I can to support the boys before I leave at the end of the year.”

Hodgson will join the Parramatta Eels at the end of the season after signing a two-year deal with the club late last year.

The 32-year-old played 138 games for the Raiders since joining the club in 2015 and was co-captain of the club’s 2019 grand final side.

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