 A Penrith junior with Riverstone and Emu Plains JRLFC, in 2002 Rodney was selected to play for the New South Wales under-19 squad.He made his NRL début against Melbourne Storm in round 20 of the 2002 NRL season.The following season Rodney played from the interchange bench in the 2003 NRL grand final-winning Penrith Panthers team which defeated the Sydney Roosters, 18–6.