A former Super League player could be finally set to make his NRL debut in Round Seven after his high profile move Down Under.
Ex-St Helens man Lewis Dodd is the player in question with Dodd yet to make his NRL bow for South Sydney Rabbitohs, despite the competition being six rounds deep.
A number of issues such as suspension, form and then suspension again, have ruled the former Super League talent out, but it would seem that he may finally get his chance this coming week.
Dodd has been a major talking point Down Under given his reported $650,000 per year salary with the ex-St Helens man tied down to a three-year deal, signing for head coach Jason Demetriou.
Shortly after the confirmation of Dodd’s deal, Demetriou was axed and legendary coach Wayne Bennett roped in. The pair’s first meeting went viral but as yet, there’s been no debut for Dodd but that looks set to change.
$650,000 former Super League man in line to make NRL debut after ban
South Sydney are having somewhat of a crisis in their backs, starting with Dodd who found himself banned for the first game of the season which allowed fellow recruit Jamie Humphreys to earn a start and the former Manly man seized it.
Even with injuries to Humphreys and Cody Walker, Dodd’s debut was delayed as he landed another ban but he’s now available, unscathed and without suspension this week, which can’t be said for all of the Rabbitohs’ halves.
Jayden Sullivan, who was reportedly a Super League target last year, is facing a one-match ban and it seems unlikely that Cody Walker will return in time on account of his hamstring injury.
With Humphreys on the injury list for a while longer, it’s expected that Dodd and Jack Wighton, both returning from suspension, will feature in the halves against Canterbury Bulldogs in Round Seven.
The Bulldogs sit unbeaten atop the NRL and are coming off a bye so it will be a major test for the former Super League man if he does debut, but all signs indicate that he will do.
