A letter from Hodgo to the Sea of Blue
Dear Sea of Blue,
As I pull on my boots for the final time playing for our Road Safety Western Force, it is impossible not to get emotional reflecting on the journey we have taken together.
I was 24 years young when I packed up my few possessions to embrace the opportunity to be an inaugural member of the Western Force. In many ways, it was poetic that I was the last man offered a contract at the club by coach John Mitchell. I was being told by people in the know that I didn't have what it took to be a Super Rugby player. I was either going to accept that as truth and turn my back on the game I loved; or move to the other side of the country and work hard to prove them all wrong. From my first cap to my 140th, I have never taken the jersey for granted and bled blue for our team.
I'm from a small coastal town in the central coast of NSW, Avoca Beach. Being part of a close community is always where I felt most comfortable. Mateship and reputation is everything and you invest in both every day.
When I moved to Perth I was immediately embraced by my new Force Family. We were forging a new club culture together. Starting new traditions. Carving out our slice of the Perth sporting consciousness. Some of us were big names that I was excited to learn from. Many, like me, were the left overs from the other franchises, trying to prove to the world that we deserved to be Super Rugby players.
What struck me from day one is that not only were the team inner sanctum in this together; but the Sea of Blue were in it with us. They were here loving and fighting for rugby before the team was even awarded. They fought hard for us to exist. They loved us before they even knew our names. That is the unconditional love that the loyal Sea of Blue give to us every single day. It may be intangible but it is undeniable and something that the players and I don't take for granted.
From the first time you pull on your Force kit during your first pre-season you are loved. They don't care who you are, where you have been, who you have played for in the past, whether you have 100 caps or zero caps to your name, the moment you are with the Force, they are with you. You just got adopted into one of the most passionate and loyal rugby families in the world.
The Sea of Blue are there for you through every tackle, maul, pilfer, scrum, try, loss and win. Unique in the sporting landscape they are not fair-weather fans. For loving the Force is a hard slog with often few highs. But when the players are doing it tough on the pitch the fans are strong in the stands making sure that you get up to fight on. They respect the battle and as long as you are fighting for them they will not turn their back. Hearing the Sea of Blue rumble from the stands is the 16th player on the Force Field at every game. On the road you are sure to see the touring Sea of Blue in full colour and voice. Letting you know that you are never alone even in opposition territory. Opposition teams testify to the power that the Sea of Blue hold. As players, we feel it lift us when the body is threatening to falter. Every pilfer, penalty, try and win is sweeter because we are in it togethe
I came to Perth for an amazing opportunity with the Western Force, yet it is the Sea of Blue and my extended Force Family who have created an incredible community that have made it my home. Thank you for adopting me and making it an easy decision to stay a one club man for 12 seasons.
I hope that I have honoured the opportunity I was given in the way I have played for you. Thanks to you I got to live my rugby dream and it has been the greatest privilege to represent you and the great state of Western Australia. I was given the opportunity to captain our Western Force and the Wallabies, which was far more than this man ever thought was possible. Thank you for being there for me and the Road Safety Western Force for every step. May we be in this together for decades to come. "
