Penrith Panthers are set to lose one of their two brilliant halfbacks after three Grand Final wins in a row.
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai have been the backbone of their success in recent times but now one of them is set to leave the club.
Luai is set to join Wests Tigers in an effort to turn their fortunes around. He has reportedly agreed a deal worth $6 million for 2025 onwards which is worth around £3.1 million.
This leaves Penrith in the market for a halfback going into 2025 and thus they are likely to turn to Super League to consider a move.
One player near the top of their interest list is Lewis Dodd, Serious About Rugby League understands. Dodd made an impression against the Panthers in 2023 when his drop goal defeated the Panthers in the World Club Challenge.
Crucially, Dodd’s contract expires at the end of the year making him available. The number seven does have an option to extend until 2027.
Dodd started out at Halton Hornets and signed for Saints Academy in 2017. 2019 saw the talented youngster play 25 times and score 21 times, kicking a further 116 goals as he led the Saints Academy all the way to the Grand Final.
His impressive form saw him called up to England Academy squad whilst he was also named as part of the 19 man squad for Saints first team’s visit to London in 2019, but did not make the matchday team.
He made his Saints first team debut in 2020 against Wigan. He slotted into dummy half and demonstrated his skill and exuberance. In his second game against Wakefield Trinity Lewis supported well to claim his first try for the Saints.
He had a breakthrough season in 2021 coming in for the injured Theo Fages who missed half of the season through injury. Dodd made a total of 21 appearances at half-back, scoring five times.
Dodd earned the coveted number #7 shirt in 2022 and began the season in flying form but sadly suffered an Achilles injury on Good Friday which ruled him out for the remainder of that season.
After all his hard work on getting back to full fitness, Lewis’ first competitive match came in the biggest game of them all – the World Club Challenge. Saints were tied with NRL Champions Penrith Panthers in extra time and with the Red V within distance of the posts Dodd called for the ball and slotted over the game winning one-pointer. A sweet moment for the young half-back to bring home our historic third World Title.
In his highest scoring season to date, Doddy scored ten tries during the 2023 season.
