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| Full name | Joshua Hoffman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1988-03-10)10 March 1988 (age 37) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 5 January 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Emma Kerr | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Ben Barba (cousin) Wendell Sailor (cousin) Tristan Sailor (cousin) Dane Gagai (cousin) Jacob Gagai (cousin) Travis Waddell (cousin) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Josh Hoffman (born 10 March 1988) is aNew Zealand internationalrugby league footballer who plays asfullback, winger andcentre, five-eighth for theWests Panthers in theBrisbane Rugby League premiership.
He previously played for theBrisbane Broncos,Gold Coast Titans andParramatta Eels in theNational Rugby League, and theIndigenous All Stars.
Hoffman was born inMackay, Queensland, Australia to a New ZealandMāori father Shane and mother Grace who is ofTorres Strait Islands descent.[4] Hoffman attendedMackay State High School.[5] During his childhood junior footy playing days in Mackay, he played alongsideBen Barba[6] as well as for Mackay. Hoffman also played arugby union, playing at Inside Centre.[7]
He is related to former Brisbane Broncos playerWendell Sailor,[8]St Helens R.F.C. playerBen Barba,[9]South Sydney Rabbitohs playerDane Gagai[10][11] andTravis Waddell. Hoffman is ofNgāti Pikiāo descent.[12] Hoffman has two daughters, Leilani-Grace (who was born in 2013)[13] and Evie (who was born in 2015) with long-term partner Emma Kerr, whom he married on 10 December 2011 at Coral Sea Resort in Airlie Beach. He and his wife honeymooned in Hawaii before he returned to Broncos training for the 2012 season.[14]
In round 13 of the2008 NRL season, Hoffman made hisNRL debut against theSt George Illawarra Dragons, filling in forKarmichael Hunt while he was on Origin duty.[15] Hoffman played in 2 matches for the Broncos in his debut year, spending most of the year in the under 20'sToyota Cup competition.
Hoffman returned to Broncos squad in round 17 following off season shoulder surgery, playing against theNew Zealand Warriors. He scored his first NRL try in the Broncos 28–14 win atSuncorp Stadium.[16] Hoffman played in 3 more matches for the Broncos. Hoffman spent the rest of the year playing for theRedcliffe Dolphins in theQueensland Cup and was also the player of the match for Queensland Residents in their win over the New South Wales Residents.
After the departure ofKarmichael Hunt from the club at the end of the 2009 season, the youngster was tipped to take over the fullback position.[17] He did so, taking over the fullback role for the Broncos in the 2010 season and was awarded the Paul Morgan Medal as the Broncos' best and fairest player of the season.[18] Hoffman played in 20 matches and scored 7 tries for the Broncos in the2010 NRL season. Despite being raised in Queensland, as well as growing-up and playing his junior rugby league football in Mackay,[19] Hoffman chose New Zealand over playing forQueensland andAustralia, saying "I enjoyed watchingOrigin, watching the old greats when I was a kid but growing up I never rarely dreamt about playingOrigin, I always wanted to play for New Zealand."[20] Before he played a test for New Zealand, New Zealand rugby league football managerTony Kemp believed Hoffman "could potentially head into the nextWorld Cup in2013 as a mainstay in the Kiwis team."[21]
Hoffman featured in 16 matches and scored 6 tries for the Broncos in the2011 NRL season. Hoffman picked up a leg injury in the round 3 clash against theGold Coast Titans, in the Broncos 14–8 win atCbus Super Stadium, and that sidelined him until round 13.[22][23] Hoffman featured in every Broncos game after coming back from a leg injury from round 13 through to round 26. However, he injured his leg in the round 26 clash against theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the first half and that ended his season.[24][25] The injury also meant he was unavailable for theNew Zealand national rugby league team for their trans-Tasman test match and2011 Four Nations tournament squad. On 26 October 2011, Hoffman extended his contract through to 2015. After his contract resigning, he said that he was keen on shifting from fullback to five-eighth for the 2012 season, replacing retiring club captainDarren Lockyer in the number six jumper.[26]
On 20 April 2012, Hoffman made his international debut for theNew Zealand national rugby league team, playing at fullback in the Kiwis 20–12 loss toAustralia in the2012 Anzac Test atEden Park. Despite the loss, Hoffman produced a strong performance; making a couple of strong runs/metres with the ball and also making a try-saving tackle on Brisbane Broncos club teammate andAustralian Kangaroos centre,Justin Hodges.[27][28] During the week before round 23 against theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Hoffman was axed to theRedcliffe Dolphins in theQueensland Cup after he was late for training.[29] Hoffman returned in the next week for the Broncos in round 24 against theMelbourne Storm, playing on the wing in the Broncos 19–18 loss at Suncorp Stadium.[30] Hoffman played in 23 matches and scored 3 tries for the Broncos in the2012 NRL season. Following the 2012 season, Hoffman was selected to play fullback for New Zealand in the post-season trans-Tasman test against Australia at1300SMILES Stadium. Australia won the game 18–10.[31] Despite the loss, Hoffman was one of the best players on the field, producing a try-saving tackle onJohnathan Thurston, making a couple of great touches with the ball and producing a number of good runs with the ball.[32]
Due to the shock arrival ofScott Prince from theGold Coast Titans, Hoffman was shifted to the wing so thatCorey Norman could play at fullback. Hoffman had a flying start on the wing, scoring 7 tries in his first 6 matches, including a hat-trick in round 3, in the Broncos 32–26 loss against theMelbourne Storm.[33] For the2013 Anzac Test, Hoffman was selected to play for New Zealand at fullback, scoring a try right on half-time in the Kiwis 32–12 loss against Australia atCanberra Stadium.[34] Hoffman played on the wing until round 20, when Corey Norman was dropped to theQueensland Cup and Hoffman was returned to his preferred position of fullback. Hoffman finished the2013 NRL season as the Broncos highest tryscorer with 15 tries in 24 matches. Following the 2013 season, Hoffman was named in the New Zealand KiwisRugby League World Cup squad.[35] On 20 October, Hoffman played at fullback in the Kiwis' 50-0 World Cup warm-up game over theCook Islands.[36] Two days before the Kiwis' first regularWorld Cup pool game clash againstSamoa, Hoffman dropped the bombshell on the Broncos by asking for an early release from his current Broncos contract (which expired in 2015) to join theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, followingJustin Hodges comments stating that Hoffman was 'not' the right player to play fullback for the Broncos.[37][38][39] Hoffman played fullback in the Kiwis' first regular World Cup game, scoring a try in the Kiwis' 42–24 win against Samoa.[40] The following week, coachStephen Kearney rested him in the Kiwis' 48–0 win overFrance. However, the week after that Hoffman featured in the Kiwis' 56–10 win over PNG.[41] However, Hoffman was ruled out of the Kiwis' quarter final clash againstScotland due to a shoulder injury. Despite recovering from a shoulder injury and being cleared to play, Hoffman did not play again in the World Cup finals.
Hoffman ended pre-season speculation around his future at the Brisbane Broncos by saying that he was staying with the club and was happy to play anywhere in the Broncos' backline.[42][43] In February 2014, Hoffman was selected in the Broncos inaugural2014 Auckland Nines squad, where the team finished runners-up.[44] Hoffman started the season, playing at five-eighth for the Broncos. This was Hoffman's first stint playing at Five-Eighth since his Mackay junior playing days as a 17-year-old kid. In the lead-up to the Broncos ANZAC Day home-game match against theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs, Hoffman suffered a leg injury in the final Broncos training session, which ruled him out of that NRL ANZAC Day clash and theAnzac Test.[45] However, Hoffman return from injury in round 9 against theNorth Queensland Cowboys in the Broncos 27–14 loss at 1300SMILES Stadium.[46] Hoffman featured at five-eighth until round 18. In round 19, Hoffman shifted back to fullback, while Broncos teammateBen Barba shifted tofive-eighth for the clash against the New Zealand Warriors. During the game, Hoffman helped the Broncos to a 28–22 win at Suncorp Stadium by producing a performance that included; saving 4 tries and making 98 metres and 6 tackle-bursts from 10 runs.[47] Hoffman went on to play fullback for the Broncos regular season games until round 23, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where Hoffman picked up a leg injury in the second half of the Broncos 42–16 loss atANZ Stadium which ruled him out for the rest of the season.[48] Hoffman finished the Brisbane Broncos2014 NRL season with him playing in 20 matches and scoring a try. On 6 October, Hoffman was dropped from the New Zealand Kiwis' initialFour Nations squad.[49] However, following a season-ending injury to Panthers rookie wingerDallin Watene-Zelezniak leading up to the Kiwi's firstFour Nations game against Australia in Brisbane, Hoffman was called into the squad.[50] On 30 October 2014, after months of speculation, Hoffman signed a 3-year deal with theGold Coast Titans.[51][52]
On 20 January 2015, Hoffman was named in the Gold Coast Titans2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[53] On 13 February 2015, Hoffman was selected on the wing for theIndigenous All Stars in the2015 All Stars match at Cbus Super Stadium.[54] The Indigenous side won 20–6 over theNRL All Stars.[55] In round 1 of the2015 NRL season, Hoffman made his club debut for the Titans against theWests Tigers. He played at centre in the Titans 19–18 loss at Cbus Super Stadium.[56] In round 7, against thePenrith Panthers, Hoffman scored his first and second club tries for the Titans in their 32–6 win at Cbus Super Stadium.[57] Hoffman finished his first year with the Titans with him playing in all of their 24 matches and scoring 6 tries.
On 20 June 2016, Hoffman was told by the Titans that his services weren't needed after season's end and was not going to be offered another contract from the club, however he did attract interest from theSt George Illawarra Dragons, theNewcastle Knights andSt. Helens in theSuper League but was reluctant to leave the club.[58] Hoffman finished the2016 NRL season with him playing in all of the Titans 25 matches and scoring 8 tries. On 21 September 2016, Hoffman was released from his contract with the Titans, where he signed a 3-year deal with theParramatta Eels starting from the 2017.[59][60]
In February 2017, Hoffman was named in the Eels2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[61] In Round 1 of the2017 NRL season, Hoffman made his club debut for theParramatta Eels against theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles, where he played on the wing in the 20–12 win atBrookvale Oval.[62] In Round 6 against theNew Zealand Warriors, Hoffman scored his first club try for the Eels in the 22–10 loss atMt Smart Stadium.[63] In their 32–24 win over TheAuckland Warriors, Hoffman injured his knee and missed most of the season and struggled to regain his place in The Parramatta side ending up playing the remainder of the year with TheWentworthville Magpies.[64]
Hoffman started off the 2018 season for Parramatta as one of the first choice wingers in the opening five rounds of the competition but was dropped to reserve grade following Parramatta's defeat by Penrith. After spending nearly two months in reserve grade, Hoffman was recalled to The Parramatta squad to face his old club TheBrisbane Broncos in Round 12 but was left out of the side at the last minute by coach Brad Arthur.[65] On 2 June, Hoffman returned to the starting side in the club's humiliating 30–4 loss to Newcastle scoring a try right at the end of the game.[66]On 6 August, Hoffman was ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.[67]
At the start of the 2019 season, Hoffman was left out of the Parramatta side as coachBrad Arthur opted to go withBlake Ferguson andMaika Sivo as the starting wingers. In Round 2 2019, Hoffman was called into the Parramatta side to cover the suspendedMichael Jennings as Parramatta defeated arch rivalsCanterbury-Bankstown 36–16. In Round 6, Hoffman was again called up to the first grade side to cover the injuredBlake Ferguson as Parramatta defeatedWests Tigers 51–6 in the opening game at the newWestern Sydney Stadium.[68]
In Round 10 against North Queensland, Hoffman scored a length of the field intercept try as Parramatta lost a close game 17–10.[69]In Round 12, Hoffman scored the winning try for Parramatta as the club defeated a depletedSouth Sydney team 26–14 at theWestern Sydney Stadium.[70][71]
In Round 14, Hoffman scored 2 tries as Parramatta defeated his former club Brisbane 38–10 atWestern Sydney Stadium. Hoffman was later taken from the field on a stretcher after he suffered an accidental blow to the head by teammateMitchell Moses.[72]
For much of the2019 NRL season, Hoffman played for Parramatta's feeder club theWentworthville Magpies in theCanterbury Cup NSW. Hoffman captained Wentworthville in the club's 2019Canterbury Cup NSW grand final defeat againstNewtown at theWestern Sydney Stadium. Wentworthville had made the grand final after finishing in 8th place and produced three upset victories to reach the decider.[73]
After being released by Parramatta, Hoffman joined theTownsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup. Hoffman played 13 games for Townsville between 2020 and 2021. In 2022, Hoffman joinedWests Panthers in the local A-grade Brisbane premiership.[74]
| Season | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 | - | - | - | |
| 2009 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| 2010 | 20 | 7 | - | - | 28 |
| 2011 | 16 | 6 | - | - | 24 |
| 2012 | 23 | 3 | - | - | 12 |
| 2013 | 24 | 15 | - | - | 60 |
| 2014 | 20 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Total | 109 | 33 | - | - | 132 |
| Year | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 24 | 6 | - | - | 24 |
| Total | 24 | 6 | - | - | 24 |
| 2016 | 24 | 7 | - | - | 28 |
| Season | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| 2014 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 5 | 2 | - | - | 8 |