Newcastle’s greatest ever player Andrew Johns has backed the 2016 signing of embattled Canterbury and Blues playmaker Trent Hodkinson.

“I think it’s a good signing. He can add something to them,” Johns told Fairfax.

“I was critical at the start of the year but I don’t go off half-cocked to bag people. He wasn’t performing to the level I know he can play at and he’d admit that.

“To his credit he fought back and in Origin II I thought he played sensationally. I think he’ll do a job up there, he’ll go well.”