The toast of NSW after steering the Blues to their first triumph in nine years, Canterbury pair Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds earned their fair share of adulation this year en route to the grand final. 

Just two years before it was Keating who partnered Reynolds in the halves as the Bulldogs went down to Melbourne in the decider.

Keating has known Reynolds since they were still in nappies, while he first laced up the boots alongside Hodkinson at age 11. 

It was ironic then, that Keating’s charge to the 2012 grand final came on the back of an early-season injury to Hodkinson.

Keating didn’t give his mate his jumper back until round six of the following season when he suffered his own untimely injury. 

It’s a situation with the potential to drive a wedge between two mates but Keating says their friendship was never tested.

‘‘Not at all, Trent’s one of my best mates,’’ Keating said. ‘‘I got back [from England] for the grand final and it was great to see because they’re both really close mates. You always think ‘that could’ve been me’ but they’re your mates so you always back them and support them.’’

Hodkinson has since made the Bulldogs and NSW No7 jumpers his own while Keating was left  pining for home just one year into a three-year deal with Super League’s Hull KR.

‘‘When I left I had no intentions of coming back,’’ he said. ‘‘But the way things worked out, I wasn’t really enjoying it over there and the lifestyle just didn’t really suit me and my wife.’’ Keating was lucky to be picked up by the Dragons and, although there’s no easy route back, he says he’s ready and waiting for any opportunity.