Josh Hodgson has set the record straight on his new contract and admits he understands people questioning the Eels signing him.

Hodgson’s 138-game career with the Raiders came to an end in Round 1 when he suffered his third ACL tear in five years.

Parramatta had already signed the 32-year-old to replace Reed Mahoney from next season and Hodgson confirmed he’ll at the club until the end of 2024, despite reports this week saying otherwise.

The SMH claimed the Eels had an option in their favour which would allow them cut ties with Hodgson after 12 months.

“There is an option in both favours so I have got two years, there is a player option and a club option in that one, so I am there for two years just to clear that one up,” Hodgson said on the Fox League podcast.

“I heard about the story, but there's an option in my favour and in the club’s favour which is obviously different in salaries, that’s why it is negotiated like that but there is an option in both favours so it will be a two-year deal.”

Hodgson, who captained Canberra in the 2019 grand final, revealed he could have medically retired after his third knee reconstruction.

But the Englishman is determined to win that elusive premiership before he hangs up the boots.

“I am 32 I have just done my third knee, I could have medically retired if I’d have wanted to, I don’t need to be going again if I didn’t want to,” Hodgson said.

“But it’s that burning desire and the want to win, the want to try and win a premiership is why I will always want to go again.

“I am not stupid, I know the way I’d think about someone who is 32, after he had done a third knee, going to a new club, probably if I am at that club and I don’t really know me, I am probably thinking why are we signing him at 32 and letting someone go.

“I understand people thinking that way, but when people think that way it just makes me work even harder.

“It makes me want to go even harder into my training and want to prove people wrong even more so.

“That’s what I kind of thrive off, I have got the love of the game, I do genuinely love it as much as I did when I was a kid and If I didn’t have that then I probably would retire.

“I actually love what I do, I never see it as a job I see it as a lifestyle, you have got to live it but to me it is a paid hobby, I go to training every day and at the end of the day I want to win.

“I want to win a comp and I still have that burning desire to win it and I will never retire unless I have given absolutely everything into trying to do that.

“They (Parramatta) are a good team and I am sure I can add a lot there which is why I went there.

“I have a lot of pride about myself, if I didn’t think I could do it, I wouldn’t be trying to but for me I have a good few years in me yet.”