Canberra Raiders star Josh Hodgson lauds Toronto Wolfpack's Sonny Bill Williams coup

The Canberra Raiders and Great Britain hooker has lauded the Wolfpack's audacious two-year deal with Williams reportedly worth up to $10 million.

It is hoped the dual-international's return to the 13-man code can fast-track Toronto's plans to grow rugby league in North America after they earned promotion to the English Super League.

The Wolfpack have put the noses of some rugby league traditionalists out of joint but Hodgson says their latest move will be a huge boost to the English competition.

Now Williams is on a collision course with the Australian Kangaroos set to face Toronto in a tour match next year.

"It's great for the game. Toronto are obviously a team from Canada that is trying to grow the game over there and trying to spread the name," Hodgson said.

"If they can get someone like Sonny Bill, not only for his rugby league talents but just for his image and what he brings to the game in terms of fans and people from other codes, it's going to spread the name of rugby league and the name of Toronto around the game.

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"It's a really smart signing from them, to get someone like that to try to grow it.

"We all want the game to be as strong as possible, whether that be internationally or at club level, all over the world we need to push it as much as we can."

Hodgson will link up with former Raiders teammate Blake Austin - who has been named on the wing - in the Great Britain side for a clash with New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.

But the biggest coup for the Lions is back-rower John Bateman after the Raiders star was shortlisted for the RLIF Golden Boot award, handed to the game's best international player in 2019.

Great Britain coach Wayne Bennett says he never bothered asking Austin if he had played on the wing, because "I did not want the answer" he knew was coming.

Austin is the latest in a long line of players coming in and out of the side amid an injury crisis that has a raft of them out of position.

But Hodgson is adamant the revival of the Lions program has been a success despite losses to Tonga and New Zealand.

"We're building here, we've got a great squad. Of course, we want to win every single game," Hodgson said.

"We're building for the future. The sign of a good team is being a good defensive team. The teams that win competitions are always being a good defensive side.

"We've not leaked too many points, there's some tweaking we need to do in attack to get some things right and execute a little better, but our foundations in terms of our defence have been good.

"It's a really good starting point for us, but we're in a professional sport and we're all professional athletes.

"We all want to win every single game, it's been disappointing not to get those wins but we know where we're heading."