Wallabies' assistant coach Brett Hodgson has kept a notably low profile at the World Cup but he's made a big impact on fullback-turned-fan-boy Andrew Kellaway.
Australia's defence coach hasn't fronted the media in France since a brief zoom call last month but Kellaway has been picking the brains of the former NRL star.
Hodgson started his career with Western Suburbs back in 1997, spent four seasons with Parramatta and then returned to the joint-venture Wests Tigers for a further five years before shifting his career to the UK.
Of diminutive stature, Hodgson was the 2005 Dally M fullback of the year, the leading pointscorer as the Wests Tigers came from nowhere to win the premiership that year.
He scored two tries in Parramatta's losing 2001 grand final against Newcastle while he is also famous for getting rag-dolled over the sideline by Maroons enforcer Gorden Tallis when he made his State of Origin debut in 2002.
Kellaway grew up in the inner west and is a big fan of Hodgson, now 45, and the Wests Tigers.
"He was a little fella with a big heart, he had a crack," 27-year-old Kellaway said of Hodgson's playing days.
"He's a Wests Tigers legend - he's been awesome - he's played in big games, plays the same position as I do so on a personal note, I found him incredibly useful.
"I didn’t watch a heap of league growing up but I’m a Wests Tigers fan, so any Wests Tigers people coming into camp is a bit of a morale boost."
Hodgson ended up at Parramatta when Western Suburbs and Balmain merged ahead of the 2000 season, leaving as a way of of staying loyal to late Magpies great and then coach Tommy Raudonikis who initially resisted the change.
Kellaway joked Hodgson must still carry the scars because he wouldn't sign his Balmain jersey.
"I’ve got my Tigers jersey back at the hotel but he refused to sign it cause it’s Balmain Tigers and he’s Wests Magpies technically."
