NRL path clears for ex-St Helens man Lewis Dodd

Former St Helens star Lewis Dodd has seen the path clear for him to be a definitive NRL starter in the upcoming 2025 campaign.

That’s because fellow half-back Lachlan Ilias has been released from the Rabbitohs to sign with St George Illawarra as the Dragons look to replace club legend Ben Hunt. The Greek international is seen as a major talent but his departure all but guarantees that Lewis Dodd will be Souths number seven in 2025.

Dodd penned a deal with South Sydney Rabbitohs all the way back in May with the NRL outfit signing the St Helens playmaker on a three-year contract. That announcement cleared up plenty of speculation about Dodd, however, he would later lose his starting berth with the Red Vee.

Despite injuries consuming Paul Wellens’ side, Dodd was a healthy scratch at times before finishing the season with games in Rounds 26, 27 and the play-offs. The combination of Dodd losing his starting spot and Souths still have Ilias in the background had teed up a position battle, however, this latest news clarifies that.

Former St Helens man sees NRL path clear

Ilias’ departure looks to lock in Dodd as the starter alongside Cody Walker as part of a spine that also features Latrell Mitchell and hooker Peter Mamouzelos, the likely replacement for Damien Cook.

Leading the side will be Wayne Bennett, who had conceded that he’d never seen Dodd play when he was asked about him in early May, something that also created questions about whether Dodd would be a starter.

His signing came on the back of a spell when the Rabbitohs saw their title hopes blown away as they lost a string of games and saw head coach Jason Demetriou sacked.

The St Helens man has signed a contract worth a reported $700,000 per year, just over £350,000, but he’s not the Bunnies’ only half-back recruit with Manly youngster Jamie Humphreys also signing, albeit on a far smaller contract.

Dodd will be the leader in the clubhouse to get the start now that Ilias has left but with how cutthroat the NRL is, particularly at such a key position, he’ll need to perform regardless of his price tag.

Fellow Englishman Will Pryce forced his way into the Newcastle Knights starting team before being dropped once again to play the remainder of the year in the NSW Cup, a fate that Ilias suffered in 2024 before his season-ending injury.