The game's greatest half was highly critical of Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds, last year's State of Origin halves, saying on Triple M he was "petrified" at the prospect of the Blues pair playing against the Queenslanders this year. The comment generated significant publicity – some say it was a case of the Blues "eating their own".

It wasn't that long ago that former Blues greats were drafted in to be part of Laurie Daley's "team" – the idea being that no one was going to bag Blues players, much in the way that Queensland's Former Origin Greats (FOGS) lay off their players.

This column knows that the comments were noted by Hodkinson and he wasn't thrilled. When your confidence is not where it should be, that kind of assessment is not going to help. Hodkinson has been weighed down by criticism and in a season where his form has been the subject of so much conjecture, it was the barb that bit. Johns, as the eighth Immortal and a great Blues player, carries weight. He knows that and doesn't apologise for what he said.

"I've been out of the game for long enough to observe the players' form and have an opinion – and that's what I am paid to do," he said. "I say plenty of good things about players, so I figure I have the right to be critical if it's warranted as well."

According to Blues insiders, Hodkinson was taken aback a couple of weeks ago when he saw Johns at a game and Johns offered a handshake. "I did approach Trent and told him that it was nothing personal and he seemed fine with all of that," Johns said.

So does he think Hodkinson will provide the Blues with what they need? "Yes, I do," Johns said. "He suits the team that Laurie has picked and the style he is going to have them play. I've got full confidence in him to do the job Laurie wants him to do."

There have been rumours Johns' comments led  to his being banned from a True Blues dinner recently. Johns described the suggestion as "absolute rubbish".

There were also raised eyebrows at the Blues media day when Brad Fittler appeared in the role of a Footy Show reporter, instead of as a Blues assistant coach. He had been heavily critical of Paul Gallen during the ASADA drama and there was a thought that may have led to his dismissal. But instead Fittler has a vital role with the junior Blues players and is responsible for creating a pathway into senior football.

Hodkinson, meanwhile, is yet to strike a deal with the Bulldogs. He has an offer and the ball is in his court. There is no doubt he could earn significantly more money if he put himself on the open market.

The problem for Hodkinson is that he admires coach Des Hasler and loves the Bulldogs, and that is worth plenty to him.

Arthur or Martha? He needs help with media

Kieran Foran has never met Eels boss Scott Seward. He may not know what he looks like. Nor has he met Steve Sharp, nor any of the types who hang out in Eels land beating their chests that they are on one of the Eels boards.

Foran didn't sign with the Eels for the club administration – he joined in spite of it. It is why he has a "political chaos" escape clause in his contract with the Eels. But Foran's agent, Paul Sutton, says he is going to stay solid and won't backflip on his deal with Parramatta. "He is a man of his word," Sutton said.

What Foran cares about is Brad Arthur. He is why he joined Parramatta. If Arthur is thrown out by the Eels then Foran would care about what was going on at the club. Until that happens, Foran will be at Parramatta in 2016.

Arthur has a fantastic rapport with his players – they love him. But he is yet to develop one with the media. His fuse needs some work. He lost it during "ballboygate" and was dismissive of an American reporter who wanted to get a quote on Jarryd Hayne. On Thursday he snapped at a cameraman, saying, "get that thing out of my face" and then threw water at the camera after news the Eels had breached the salary cap.

Arthur is newish to the media game and will cop a lot worse than one camera and a reporter hitting him up. He has other issues to address, such as the results his team have achieved, but dealing with the media is an area he needs to work on.

Hot shoe shuffle

Plenty of questions have been asked about Brett Stewart's unusual post-try celebrations when he broke Steve Menzies' Manly try-scoring record against the Panthers on Monday night. Before the game, Stewart told Menzies that he was going to imitate Menzies' dancing style. The Eagles players say Menzies looks like he's shuffling cards when he's on the dance floor strutting his stuff, hence the celebration.

Over and outer

Darcy Lussick is so  on the outer at Parramatta it appears  there's no way back. At one point those close to him say he wasn't paid, an odd thing given Parramatta's willingness to splurge in recent times.

Lussick is in demand, but he is likely to head back to Manly next year. Those close to him feel the Eels are trying to push him out  this year through a breach of  contract. He had scheduled a dinner with Daly Cherry-Evans one night, only to be told shortly before he was to meet DCE that he had an Eels function to attend, and that he would be in breach of his contract if he didn't go. The same message was given to him  about  arrival times before a game. He was required to arrive three hours  before kick-off.

Lussik was shovelled into NSW Cup without the fuss associated with Chris Sandow – and duly copped a four-game suspension. Things could not be going worse and Manly is not an option this year as they can't squeeze him under their salary cap.

A brother's care

Andrew Fifita calls it a "twin thing" and without the support of his twin brother, David, he doesn't know where he'd be today – but it would not be in the Origin team.

Andrew is fighting  depression. "There was a time when I thought enough was enough and I was ready to walk away ... it was not what I wanted any more," he said. "I didn't know what was wrong, but my brother did. I didn't take myself to rehab – it was my brother who knew and it was my brother who took me to rehab. He knew I was not right and that I needed something to be done. He took charge. I suppose it's the bond we have. He knows me like no one else knows me. It's the twin thing and I owe him big time for getting me to the position I am in."

Andrew has been dealing with a rumour that he was  put in the too-hard basket because of his conduct during the 2013 Origin series. He explained what happened: "It wasn't in Origin, it was after the 2013 World Cup and I was at a function and I was being loud and questioning what was next ... I probably didn't conduct myself in the best way.  I was questioning what was next in my life and I wasn't in the best state. I don't think that helped me, but I probably didn't know what was wrong with me at that time and I've learnt since.

"It was all the speculation the next year that tipped me over the edge in the end. I'd reached the top and I didn't know where to go. And I then felt like no matter what I was doing it wasn't enough. That  spilt over into what happened to me and with David needing to step in."

Blues coach Laurie Daley has welcomed Andrew back into the Blues, but he wants him to tone down. "He just needs to pick his moments," Daley said. "I don't want to stifle anyone's personality. But there is a time and a place for fun and that's something Andrew will know."

What Fifita is certain of is that he is a better player than the one who earned rave reviews in 2013. "I'm better in every area," he said. "Approach, body, fitness and experience."

Healing the Eels?

It can't get much worse for the Eels, but they have someone who wants to help them out of the hole they are in –  Mitch Ross, the man who helped provide South Sydney with stamina and grunt through a range of controversial products, including his ICE cooling system, performance chips to assist with activity, recovery and sleep, and his inner soles to help with pain and blood flow.

Souths players used the products and a number swore by them. But former Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson wasn't a fan and eventually Ross was squeezed out of the club – and then had a pay dispute.

"Souths didn't pay me the money they promised me upfront, but they paid us about $8900 for some product," Ross said. "I found that sad because I had a good relationship with Madge [Souths coach Michael Maguire] and he knew how good my products are. I really want to know what Mr  [James] Packer would be thinking. He bought into a team that was playing a certain way because they were using my products – but now he has a side without that same power and stamina that they had last year; it's like buying a Ferrari race team and then when you get it, the high-performance motor has been taken out."

Ross was viewed as a snake oil salesman by some at South Sydney, but he has faced that before. He says the proof was in the premiership.  "They were just slaying teams with brute force and there were very few injuries. I still want to work with Souths and would love to meet with Mr Packer to help the team recapture what they had.

"But the side I would really like to assist is the Eels. They are in need of something special. They sit last on the ladder; what does Brad Arthur and Daniel Anderson have to lose?"

The Blues sing

Laurie Daley and the Blues were brilliant with the media when they were required to do their open day. No request was knocked back and it was professionally organised by their media man, Tristan Hay. Daley was the last to leave – after he'd woken up that morning at 3.30 – and not because he wanted to prepare messages. "I just kept on thinking I'd be late for today," he said.

Danny Weidler is a Channel Nine reporter