Trent Hodkinson reckons Andrew Johns is right - that everything the eighth Immortal said about his claims to the NSW No.7 jersey, which Johns owned like no man before or since, are spot on.
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"Joey is a legend, an Origin great, so he's entitled to his opinion," Hodkinson told Fairfax Media.
"I thought it was pretty fair what he said. I'll cop it on the chin and move on, do my talking on the paddock. I think [all the criticism] has been pretty fair, to be honest. I haven't been playing up to scratch and been where I finished off last year. Fair's fair, people are entitled to their opinions."
Hodkinson could use any number of excuses for being below his best. Like the knee surgery that prevented him from training alongside his Dogs teammates in the pre-season until February. Or the fact he has started just twice alongside his Canterbury and NSW teammate Josh Reynolds this year. Or that his future has remained unresolved longer than even the Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans contractual sagas, which have provided endless fodder.
"I'm quite hard on myself and [my form] has not been up to scratch, it's not where I know I should be," he said. "Last week I was a little bit happier but still nowhere near my capabilities."
The blue carpet was rolled out for every single player who represented NSW at The Star on Wednesday night during the inaugural True Blues event. Johns was conspicuous by his absence, which ensured there were no awkward moments between with the playmakers he ran the rule over. Hodkinson had no issue with the critique, which included: "They had five of their best players out so I thought Trent Hodkinson would stand up and really try to take the game to the Dragons and be the most dominant player on the field. At times I felt he was hiding away from the ball and didn't want to get the ball in his hands."
However, he thought recent attacks on Reynolds - Johns told Triple M that the pivot had "totally lost his head" and that many of his kicks were "duds" - were harsh. "He's been out for a while, he got hurt in that round one game and he came back off the bench a couple of times," Hodkinson said. "I think it's a bit too harsh on him. He got the full 80 [minutes] out last week and absolutely killed it. I know he was looking forward to starting in last week's game and it will be a good game."
Hodkinson scored, and then converted, the try that sealed NSW a series win for the first time in nine years last year. While the 26-year-old isn't playing as well now, he is - statistically speaking - only slightly down on last year. He is touching the Steeden 5.8 times more per game in 2015, passing an additional 7.3 times and kicking an average 43 metres more. But if there is one discernable difference it's that, from a similar amount of runs, he is making 19.3 metres less. Which begs the question - does he deserve to be punted?
"It all comes down to how you play and how your form is rolling into Origin," Hodkinson said.
"You're spot is never safe no matter what happens. I'm looking forward to going out on Friday and making the next few games good ones, [try to] roll into Origin with a bang. We'll see what happens."
The narrative has shifted from Hodkinson and Reynolds' dip in form to whether those within the NSW inner sanctum should be permitted to comment on it. Johns, whose paymasters include the Nine Network and Triple M, is not only a past Blues player but a sometime assistant or halves coach. It was ironic that the balance between speaking one's mind and getting behind the team was debated at a gala event celebrating a new-found solidarity between former state representatives. "That's what Origin does, it creates headlines," coach Laurie Daley said at the True Blues ball.
"People have their opinion and we welcome that, that's what makes State of Origin. For me, loyalty is a big part of my nature, a big part of the selection process. I've got every confidence in the players that I select. I have every confidence in Josh and Trent. They played really well last year and yes, they might not be playing at their best at the moment. I think we just need to chill and relax a bit at the moment, we're still four weeks away from State of Origin. I'm comfortable with where we're at."
Hodkinson himself appears at ease despite speculation also extending to his club future. His former team Manly are one of his suitors as Sea Eagles powerbrokers try to fill the void left by the departures of Foran and, barring any further surprises, Cherry-Evans.
"Funny enough, it hasn't [affected my form]," Hodkinson said. "I know that will look after itself. A lot of people ask me that question but I haven't been thinking about it too much, which is surprising. I'd love to stay, I've been there for four years already. I couldn't see myself anywhere else but we'll have to wait and see. Hopefully it will get sorted."
The fact it is taking Canterbury so long to come to terms with the incumbent Blues halfback, one that guided them to last year's grand final no less, does little to douse speculation that Hodkinson could be on the outer. So too the fact that even though he co-captined the club in the decider in the absence of the injured Michael Ennis, he was totally overlooked for even a vice-captaincy position this year. Again, Hodkinson takes no offence.
"No, not at all," he said. "I knew there was a leadership group, which Dessie [Hasler] would go through. James, being the leader he is, I knew he was a short favourite. Obviously Tols [Aiden Tolman] and Frankie [Pritchard] got named [vice captains] and they thoroughly deserved that."
