Player Lewis Dodd

[RLPommy]

And you just know that there is no swap deals ever going to be ratified if your mob don't even think Cleary would make your team.

**** that's hilarious btw.

It’s not my mob, I’m not a Wigan fan. It was tongue in cheek from Radlinski, a clever way to make headlines

 

[Bruster]

Yeah he’s sighed a 6 year deal and there isn’t an NRL clause in there. I think they acted quickly to tie him down as he’d only just signed an improved contract last year. They will expect a big fee if he does go anywhere

That's a good and quick move from Wigan. Nsemba would be on the radar from a lot of other ESL teams. I would have liked him to be on ours but not so. With Liam Farrel at 34 it's not certain how much longer he will play on so ofcourse Wigan had to lock Nsemba down.

 

[Noah]

I have been reading some articles and am warming up to the idea of Dodd, he clearly is not the flashy/all or nothing 7 like a lot of super league clubs have but is a controlling 7 and has a good kicking game.


The Breakdown: Matty Smith analyses St Helens’ attack revamp and new Lewis Dodd role
Aaron Bower
08 Mar 2024 7:00 AM

We’ve changed the way we’re playing this year for the benefit of us as a group but also for Doddy. They had a free role last year, all of them, but Daz (Darrel Clark) is really going to help Doddy’s game in particular.

He’s owning that middle of the field, tram to tram, and the six and the one are playing off that. He’s playing as a first receiver now and that’s where he’s at his best, talking and directing. Jonny and Jack have a free role as second receivers.

That’s different in the sense of last year, Jonny and Lewis played split – what I mean by that is they both had an edge last year. Doddy played on the left, and Jonny was on the right, and Jack had that free role, as you can see from above.

Now, Doddy is first receiver on both sides of the ruck, he sits close to him and the other guys, Jonny and Jack, now have an edge each,

They can float and if we go left or right, we’ve got someone there and Lewis is in the middle of that field, working with his middles. That’s his strength and I can see that in him. He’s also got that injection of speed and a step; we still want him to run and be threatening with the ball, but we want him to be the controlling half, and the general. Daz being in the team has led to that change.

Sometimes there’s too many voices and we’ve tasked him with being the leader. I think that’s what he wants and that’s where the staff see him.

 

[Pplspoet]

I have been reading some articles and am warming up to the idea of Dodd, he clearly is not the flashy/all or nothing 7 like a lot of super league clubs have but is a controlling 7 and has a good kicking game.


The Breakdown: Matty Smith analyses St Helens’ attack revamp and new Lewis Dodd role
Aaron Bower
08 Mar 2024 7:00 AM

We’ve changed the way we’re playing this year for the benefit of us as a group but also for Doddy. They had a free role last year, all of them, but Daz (Darrel Clark) is really going to help Doddy’s game in particular.

He’s owning that middle of the field, tram to tram, and the six and the one are playing off that. He’s playing as a first receiver now and that’s where he’s at his best, talking and directing. Jonny and Jack have a free role as second receivers.

That’s different in the sense of last year, Jonny and Lewis played split – what I mean by that is they both had an edge last year. Doddy played on the left, and Jonny was on the right, and Jack had that free role, as you can see from above.

Now, Doddy is first receiver on both sides of the ruck, he sits close to him and the other guys, Jonny and Jack, now have an edge each,

They can float and if we go left or right, we’ve got someone there and Lewis is in the middle of that field, working with his middles. That’s his strength and I can see that in him. He’s also got that injection of speed and a step; we still want him to run and be threatening with the ball, but we want him to be the controlling half, and the general. Daz being in the team has led to that change.

Sometimes there’s too many voices and we’ve tasked him with being the leader. I think that’s what he wants and that’s where the staff see him.

In the games I watched this year, this wasn’t the case. He and Mbye played split. It was rare for Dodd to get the ball anywhere but his narrow left hand corridor.

 

[Rabbits21]

In the games I watched this year, this wasn’t the case. He and Mbye played split. It was rare for Dodd to get the ball anywhere but his narrow left hand corridor.

Did you see much of his kicking game? That’s been spoken up. I really hope it’s as good as people are saying as the last few years our kicking game has been bottom 4 standard.

 

[Pplspoet]

Did you see much of his kicking game? That’s been spoken up. I really hope it’s as good as people are saying as the last few years our kicking game has been bottom 4 standard.

People have differing takes re:just how effective. Short attacking kicking looks good. General play kicking looked ok. He’s not Adam Reynolds or Mitch Moses or Nathan Cleary with his long kicking game, but he doesn’t appear to be a liability there either. Id hope Trell still takes some of the field position kicks when we’re camped in our end.

 

[Bruster]

I have been reading some articles and am warming up to the idea of Dodd, he clearly is not the flashy/all or nothing 7 like a lot of super league clubs have but is a controlling 7 and has a good kicking game.


The Breakdown: Matty Smith analyses St Helens’ attack revamp and new Lewis Dodd role
Aaron Bower
08 Mar 2024 7:00 AM

We’ve changed the way we’re playing this year for the benefit of us as a group but also for Doddy. They had a free role last year, all of them, but Daz (Darrel Clark) is really going to help Doddy’s game in particular.

He’s owning that middle of the field, tram to tram, and the six and the one are playing off that. He’s playing as a first receiver now and that’s where he’s at his best, talking and directing. Jonny and Jack have a free role as second receivers.

That’s different in the sense of last year, Jonny and Lewis played split – what I mean by that is they both had an edge last year. Doddy played on the left, and Jonny was on the right, and Jack had that free role, as you can see from above.

Now, Doddy is first receiver on both sides of the ruck, he sits close to him and the other guys, Jonny and Jack, now have an edge each,

They can float and if we go left or right, we’ve got someone there and Lewis is in the middle of that field, working with his middles. That’s his strength and I can see that in him. He’s also got that injection of speed and a step; we still want him to run and be threatening with the ball, but we want him to be the controlling half, and the general. Daz being in the team has led to that change.

Sometimes there’s too many voices and we’ve tasked him with being the leader. I think that’s what he wants and that’s where the staff see him.

That was apparently the plan at the start of the season but I didn't see it go like that. Dodd was mostly on the Left at 1st or predominantly 2nd receiver. Lomax was on the right and took most of the plays. Possibly due to having the combo of 2 rep players in Lomax and Welsby, but Dodd didnt see as much of the ball as I thought he could have. The notable exception was the last play that mostly went to Dodd. Wellens, in hindsight, would have been better off to use Dodd in the role described above, because he does have a good step and is fast. I noticed that Dodd was one of the "voices" for St Helens on the field too, as one of their leaders, and this is good for an NRL half. The thing for Dodd is the challange of ESL to NRL and more Paul Wellens to Wayne Bennet that will see the improvement we need for our new 7.

 

[Pplspoet]

That was apparently the plan at the start of the season but I didn't see it go like that. Dodd was mostly on the Left at 1st or predominantly 2nd receiver. Lomax was on the right and took most of the plays. Possibly due to having the combo of 2 rep players in Lomax and Welsby, but Dodd didnt see as much of the ball as I thought he could have. The notable exception was the last play that mostly went to Dodd. Wellens, in hindsight, would have been better off to use Dodd in the role described above, because he does have a good step and is fast. I noticed that Dodd was one of the "voices" for St Helens on the field too, as one of their leaders, and this is good for an NRL half. The thing for Dodd is the challange of ESL to NRL and more Paul Wellens to Wayne Bennet that will see the improvement we need for our new 7.

I hope Dodd’s 2024 was just a case of the coach/club losing their way some and him being the outgoing player that was an easy scapegoat.

The squad had their most success under Woolf who preceded Wellens, so some of it could be a coach taking over an elite team and losing his way (JD anyone?).

Or perhaps it’s somewhat a case of the mood in the squad shifting knowing he had a pending release.

The one good thing 2024 provided was another 12 months of recovery from his 2022 achilles injury. The further that is in the rear vision mirror the better.

 

[Brownrabbit]

People have differing takes re:just how effective. Short attacking kicking looks good. General play kicking looked ok. He’s not Adam Reynolds or Mitch Moses or Nathan Cleary with his long kicking game, but he doesn’t appear to be a liability there either. Id hope Trell still takes some of the field position kicks when we’re camped in our end.

I tend to disagree

He’s long kicking is good, really good

That kick he put in, in the second half inside his own 20 that pulled up on the opposing 10m line was something we haven’t seen here for 3 years

He also kicked long well in the World Club challenge

 

[Bruster]

I tend to disagree

He’s long kicking is good, really good

That kick he put in, in the second half inside his own 20 that pulled up on the opposing 10m line was something we haven’t seen here for 3 years

He also kicked long well in the World Club challenge

In the Eliminator against Warrington in the 2nd half Dodd kicked a low missile from his own 40 and it pulled up in the ingoal area. Not a bad way to turn a poor set into a good set. Still I hope Latrell also kicks those long towering bombs out of our own half. It is good to have these options going into 2025. Looks like our kicking game could be one of our strengths next season.

 

[Shauno]

In the Eliminator against Warrington in the 2nd half Dodd kicked a low missile from his own 40 and it pulled up in the ingoal area. Not a bad way to turn a poor set into a good set. Still I hope Latrell also kicks those long towering bombs out of our own half. It is good to have these options going into 2025. Looks like our kicking game could be one of our strengths next season.

Considering how much of a weakness it's been in recent years, that will be a great change. Hopefully it happens

 

[Gazman]

Did you see much of his kicking game? That’s been spoken up. I really hope it’s as good as people are saying as the last few years our kicking game has been bottom 4 standard.

On what I’ve observed he’ll give us better 5th tackle options particularly in the close to the try line situations. He has a deft short kick and utilises the grubber to good effect. He’s not a great threat with the ball in hand but can spot an opportunity and links well with his outside men.

 

[Brownrabbit]

On what I’ve observed he’ll give us better 5th tackle options particularly in the close to the try line situations. He has a deft short kick and utilises the grubber to good effect. He’s not a great threat with the ball in hand but can spot an opportunity and links well with his outside men.

He’s only 22 he’s still building his game

But he has the skill set. It was nearly two years before Cleary had a try assist from a pass and two Origin series before he had a try assist at that level

The big question is whether he will play both sides of the ruck allowing Cody to dominate the left again or he will be parked on the left causing Cody to play out of position

If he can play the first receiver role feeding Cody on the left and Trell on the right and take control of the 5th tackle he will be what we need this season

 

[Rabbits21]

Lewis Dodd will be key for the Rabbitohs in 2025. Even if Wayne Bennett doesn’t know who he is​

By Adrian Proszenko SMH​

December 7, 2024 — 4.37pm


Lewis Dodd intends to, belatedly, make an impression on Wayne Bennett.

Given Dodd is the club’s new halfback, imported from the English Super League on a three-year deal purportedly worth $2.1 million, there may not be a more important member of the South Sydney roster during Bennett’s second coming at the club.

Not that you could tell from their first meeting.

On his first day at Heffron Park, while lying on a massage table, Bennett sauntered over to the newbie.

Bennett: “How are ya? What’s your name?”

Dodd: “Lewis.”

Bennett: “Lewis who?”

Dodd: “Dodd.”

Bennett: “Ah, you’re the Pommie.”

It may not have been the red-and-green carpet treatment, but Dodd can see the funny side.

“I heard about him in the past, they told me a lot of stories about him and I knew he was coming in,” Dodd said of the interaction that went viral, during a Rabbitohs sponsorship announcement with Wahu on Maroubra Beach on Saturday.

“I was excited and I was nervous and thought, ‘Oh, no, what’s gonna happen here?’ And then obviously what happened happened.

“It was funny, I enjoyed it. It was one of them moments of, ‘Oh, I’m one of them players that have a story about Wayne Bennett’ … it was a good introduction to him.”


Bennett may or may not know who Dodd is, but the impact he could potentially have on the NRL should not be understated. Still only 22 years old, Dodd has already won a premiership for Super League side St Helens, represented his country and caught the attention of Australian aficionados when he kicked the match-winning, extra-time field goal in the 2023 World Club Challenge clash against local champions Penrith.

However, the great unknown is whether he will be able to handle the pressure and scrutiny that comes with wearing the No.7 jersey at one of the biggest clubs in the NRL.

“You have to do your role consistently, and you have to take the brunt of it,” he said.

“If the team is going well, you get the plaudits, and if the team is going bad, the halfback will get the downfall of that.

“That’s the bit I enjoy most about being a halfback – you lead the team and you are responsible for what the team do. That’s sort of what excites me.

“I’ve got to learn the NRL because it is a little bit different to the Super League, but that’s what excites me. That’s one of the main reasons I came over, because I know I’ll be a better player.”

The Rabbitohs have been unable to settle on a halfback since Adam Reynolds departed four years ago. Dodd is likely to get first crack, but will face competition from Jamie Humphreys and Jye Gray.

It’s a chance for Dodd to find out whether he belongs in the world’s premier rugby league competition.

“That’s what it is,” he said. “It’s that moment where you’re nervous and excited, and you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, and you think, ‘Sould I be here?’

“That’s the bit I enjoy most about being a halfback – you lead the team and you are responsible for what the team do. That’s sort of what excites me.

“I’ve got to learn the NRL because it is a little bit different to the Super League, but that’s what excites me. That’s one of the main reasons I came over, because I know I’ll be a better player.”

The Rabbitohs have been unable to settle on a halfback since Adam Reynolds departed four years ago. Dodd is likely to get first crack, but will face competition from Jamie Humphreys and Jye Gray.

It’s a chance for Dodd to find out whether he belongs in the world’s premier rugby league competition.

“That’s what it is,” he said. “It’s that moment where you’re nervous and excited, and you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, and you think, ‘Sould I be here?’

Having that pressure – money can’t buy that feeling. That feeling where if it goes right, it’s the best feeling ever. If it goes wrong, it’s the worst feeling ever.

“That’s why you play the game, and I’m lucky enough I get to do that on a regular basis.”

Even before he arrived, critics were questioning Dodd’s signing. Within months of committing to Souths, he was dropped by St Helens.

“It was obviously tough, no one likes to be dropped, no one wants to be left out,” he said.

That’s also rugby league, that’s also life – not everything’s gonna go your way.

“There’s two ways to go: you can either sulk and moan and complain and blame other people, or you can figure out what went wrong and how to fix it, and you can go all-in on improving.

“The club were honest with me and I knew where I stood and how to improve. I just tried to do that as best I can.

“I tried to get back into the side, which I did towards the back end [of the season].

Obviously we didn’t go out on the highest of highs, but you learn a lot about yourself in those moments as a person.

“I didn’t enjoy it at the time. It was definitely something that I look back on and be a bit grateful for, in a weird way, because you definitely learn a lot about yourself and improve as a person.”

Dodd’s World Club Challenge heroics proved a catalyst to test himself in the NRL. Now he will have the chance to more frequently test himself against the likes of Penrith playmaker Nathan Cleary.

“They are moments that it’s pretty much like a fairytale,” he said. “That there is what you dream of as a halfback growing up, you dream of kicking those moments.

“It’s different being in there, you are a little bit more nervous than you are in the dream. It goes back to what I said before, as a halfback you take the brunt of the team.

If it’s going well, you take that, and if it’s bad, it’s bad.

“If I miss that and Penrith go through Nathan Cleary or Jarome Luai and get the drop goal, then they get all the plaudits and I’m the villain for missing. That’s what those moments are.

“I’ll never shy away from that, I’ll never shy away from them moments.”

 

[Rabbits21]

Lewis Dodd Interview: South Sydney’s new no.7 opens up on NRL journey​

Source Daily Telegraph:

English import Lewis Dodd is ready to embrace the NRL spotlight. Dodd explains how the Rabbitohs won him over, the homework he did before he arrived and discovering Wayne Bennett’s funny side.

NRL: South Sydney shared vision of new English recruit Lewis Dodd joining Rabbitohs training, with a classic Wayne Bennett welcome.

Long before he reported for his first official day as a Rabbitoh, English star Lewis Dodd was already doing his homework on his teammates. Dodd would sit down and watch each South Sydney match at least twice where he would compile mental and physical notes from his home at St Helens.

He was looking for trends. Especially to do with would-be halves partner Cody Walker.

“When I knew I was coming I started watching every game as if I was already at South Sydney,” Dodd said. “I was doing a review on each game and trying to learn as much as I could off the TV.

“I wanted to see how they play and how certain people and what positions they take up.”

Dodd has just finished his first week as a Rabbitoh. The halfback sat down with Michael Carayannis to discuss his highly publicised switch, how he will deal with the pressure of wearing the No.7 and his interaction with new coach Wayne Bennett.

THE DEAL​

Dodd made headlines when he agreed to a three-year contract to join South Sydney in April. The experience was a whirlwind for the 22-year-old whose clear ambition was to always give the NRL a crack.

“It was a roller-coast few weeks,” Dodd said. “I was speaking to my manager Pete Menicou and I knew I wanted to come to the NRL. It was always a dream. Speaking to him casually about it and then he rings me up one day and he said he has a meeting with (South Sydney officials) Mark Ellison and Blake Solly. I told him to let me know how it goes. I was away for the weekend but when I got back he rang me first thing and he said they were interested. I couldn’t speak. I’d never been speechless before. I’d always watched Souths closely because there had always been an English person playing for them.

“Just before I signed, Mark flew over to England just to meet me and say it in person. I was with my dad and I was like this club does not owe me anything and Mark had flown over the other side of the world just to meet me. Instantly I felt like I belonged there. It was a comfortable feeling knowing I was going to get looked after. I was like whatever it took to get it done, I wanted it done.

“I remember vividly watching the 2014 grand final and Sam Burgess fracturing his cheekbone. I thought it was incredible.

“Whenever I asked someone about South Sydney, I thought everyone was reading off the same script because they were all saying the same thing. Family club and they will support, and help you.

“So far they’ve done all that and more.”

Lewis Dodd talks to Wayne Bennett (L) and with new halves partner Cody Walker (R). Picture: Instagram

BENNETT FACTOR​

Dodd signed just before Jason Demetriou was sacked and long before Bennett announced his intention to return to the club. But that came with Dodd’s own uncertainty if he would be part of Bennett’s plans.

“Wayne coming added to the excitement,” Dodd said. “I was coming to a club that has a brilliant coach, roster and facilities. I knew he was going to challenge me and if I accepted it, it was going to make me better.

“I was a little bit unsure if he wanted me because he wasn’t the coach when I signed. The people I was speaking to at the club they reassured me that he wanted me. When I first spoke to him I got that assurance from him. I was nervous but excited to see him. Straight from the first conversation he put my mind at ease that as long as I come here, work hard and keep my head down and I will be all right.”

That first meeting only happened at the end of November before Bennett and Dodd formally attended training last Monday. Their first public interaction (see the video player above) has already gone viral. Bennett – having already met Dodd – came up to him, shook his hand and asked ‘who are you’ to which Dodd replied; ‘Lewis’. Bennett fired back ‘Lewis, who’ before saying ‘ah you’re the Pommy’.

“It was brilliant,” Dodd said. “That was just Wayne, being Wayne. It was pretty hard not to laugh at it. It’s been funny seeing the reaction. Straight after some of the boys thought I was offended but I couldn’t stop laughing.”

Lewis Dodd holds aloft the World Club Challenge trophy after guiding St Helens to victory over the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium on February 18, 2023. Picture: Getty Images

HANDLING EXPECTATIONS​

Dodd comes into a South Sydney side filled with talent. But a disappointing season last season has put the spotlight on the club.

His rich three year deal will be the subject of much conjecture. The Rabbitohs have already shown their hand that they expect Dodd to be their starting halfback after releasing Lachie Ilias to the Dragons.

“It’s a bit more expectation than back home,” Dodd said. “A lot more media coverage. It’s going to be different. If I’m playing well and the team and fans can see that I’m getting better and I can play at that level week in week out that will take the pressure away.

“That’s why you play as well. If there is pressure on you to play well every week it puts the responsibility on me to make sure I get things right.

“I’ll hang my hat on competing in every play and being in the picture in every play. If I do that, I don’t think I can go too far wrong.”

Lewis Dodd by the numbers​

Born
Sunday, 27th January, 2002
Honours & Awards
Super League
2020, 2021, 2022
Challenge Cup
2021
World Club Challenge
2023

### Competition	### Competition Wins	### Appearances	### Tries	### Goals	### Points
### Super League	3	79	27	13	135
### Challenge Cup	1	8	3	-	12
### Super League Finals	-	4	1	-	4
### World Club Challenge	1	1	-	-	1
### NRL Pre-season	-	2	1	-	5

Source: Rugby League Project

WHY NOW?​

The last time Dodd stepped foot on Australian shores he kicked an extra time field goal to give St Helens victory against Penrith in the World Club Challenge last year.

Even before that though his mind was set that at some stage he would return and play in the NRL.

“I don’t think you know what’s around the corner,” Dodd said. “I could say it’s the perfect time but in three or four years it might not be. One thing I’ve learnt from having a long-term injury was that your career is short. You might get an opportunity one week and it might not be there a week after.

“The feeling I got from Souths just added to my belief that it was the right time. I get the best out of myself when I realise I’m OK at not being the best at something or knowing everything about a certain part of life.”