CANBERRA co-captain Josh Hodgson can't wait to team up with fellow Englishman George Williams in Saturday's NRL trial in Port Macquarie.
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It will be the first time the duo have teamed up in Raiders colours after Williams officially joined the club last month after agreeing to a three-year deal last July.
He replaced former halfback Aiden Sezer after winning two premierships with Wigan (in 2016 and 2018) in the English Super League.
But Hodgson believes it might take a while for Williams to settle into the groove in the nation's capital.
"The biggest challenge I found from the Super League to the NRL was the week-to-week battle," Hodgson said.
"George will have experienced it in England where good teams like Wigan - who have been successful over the last few years - can play teams at the bottom end of the table, not play too well and still get a result.
"It's a lot different over here; if you don't turn up - it doesn't matter if you're the bottom side in the league or the top - you get beat."
Williams' handy short-kicking game will bring another dimension to coach Ricky Stuart's side in season 2020.
It was one of the few missing pieces to the puzzle during their run to last year's NRL grand final.
"George's short kicking game is really good and repeat sets is probably one area that wasn't our strongest last year and in previous years," Hodgson said.
"But he'll definitely add a bit to that dimension with me, Jack (Wighton) and George himself all now being an option."
While club physiotherapist Isaac Priddis has only been saying positive things about Port Macquarie ahead of the match, Hodgson was still wary of getting in the water.
He's far more comfortable on the land.
"Our physio spent his teenage years in Port Macquarie and he always raves about it," Hodgson said.
"He's a bit of a surfer too so, but I'm petrified of sharks.
"I've got SharkApp on my phone and I often see quite big sharks in and around the Port Macquarie area so I'll see how I go getting in the water.
"I'm really excited to come up."
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