Reports: St Helens star to make decision on his future

St Helens look to have kept hold of one of their best young talents in Lewis Dodd with reports down under emerging that the 22-year-old is set to pen a new deal with the club.

That would be seen as a major snub towards the NRL with the half-back having garnered plenty of attention down under due to his contract status and immense talents.

Dodd made himself a name to look out for among the NRL when he shone in St Helens’ World Club Challenge victory over Penrith Panthers in 2023 with the half helping control the game before then slotting the winning drop goal in golden point.

From that point onwards there have been talks surrounding Dodd’s contract status with the 22-year-old’s current deal set to expire at the end of the current season.

Plenty of the interest had come from down under too and it is now being reported that Dodd will reject those half-back-hungry teams and opt to sign a new deal to remain with St Helens.

That is per World Wide Sports with The Mole reporting the news, claiming that sources close to Dodd claim a long-term deal with St Helens is the most likely outcome.

Which St Helens players are off contract at the end of 2024?

St Helens are one of several Super League sides with a number of players off contract at the end of the year and getting a deal in place for Dodd early on would be a major boost for the club.

Whilst Dodd’s contract does expire at the end of 2024, there is an option for him to extend until 2026 but suggestions of a long-term deal from The Mole would indicate that a new longer deal could be penned.

That has been a trend in Super League of late, particularly with Saints’ big rivals Wigan Warriors who have tied down a number of stars to long-term deals, the latest of those being their head coach Matt Peet.

Peet and his backroom staff have been signed to a seven-year extension which will keep himself, Sean O’Loughlin and Thomas Leuluai at the club until at least the end of the 2030 season.

St Helens could now follow in Wigan’s footsteps in terms of tying down their playing talent with plenty of stars off contract at the end of the year, one of whom looks to have already left per reports.

It has been widely reported that Tommy Makinson will sign for Catalans Dragons but St Helens will instead focus on the retention of stars such as Alex Walmsley and rising talent Jon Bennison.

Bennison is naturally a full-back but had been forced out wide due to Jack Welsby’s stranglehold on the number one shirt, but Bennison could well be the heir to Makinson’s throne.

Alex Walmsley will be the other key player for St Helens to tie down with the prop among the best in the competition, whilst other off-contract players for the Red Vee to consider include Sione Mata’utia, Ben Davies, Konrad Hurrell and NRL recruit Waqa Blake.