"He has certainly come a long way," Lillyman said of Hodges - once a poor trainer - ahead of his Origin swansong.
"I can remember back then with my first involvement with them and guys like him would never stretch.
"But you see him now ... obviously due to necessity but his professionalism has certainly come along in leaps and bounds and that has probably helped him over the last few years of his career. "He's been a great stalwart and hopefully we can send him out a winner."
Hodges will play his 24th and final Origin since his 2002 debut tonight. His Maroons career could have nudged the record for Origins played (36 by Queensland's Darren Lockyer) if not for a string of serious injuries, including two Achilles operations.
"Not only to come back and play footy after that but to reach the same levels he was at beforehand - he's a unique player.
"He may have lost a yard or two in pace but that deception and fend ... [he] continues to break tackles and sneak through."
Lillyman said no matter the result, Hodges would emerge triumphant in the sledging stakes against NSW, despite the best efforts of the likes of young gun David Klemmer.
"He's up there with the best I have ever seen," Lillyman said of Hodges' niggle.
And it seems Hodges is not planning on going any time soon, despite his looming Origin retirement.
"He's telling us he will be driving the team bus next year," Lillyman said.
"He's ruled the first two days of camp out though."
- AAP
