South Sydney Rabbitohs playmaker Lewis Dodd has confirmed his NRL future after being recalled to the starting XIII.
The ex-St Helens man got just the second start of his NRL career last week, however, he was dropped to the reserves when the initial team lists came out for their upcoming game against the Broncos.
Captain Jack Wighton was then handed a ban and that’s seen Dodd parachuted back into the halves, where he could stake a claim given that Wighton won’t be back until Round 27 following his shot on Toby Rudolf.
As such, Dodd is set to play just his sixth NRL game but he’s intent on playing far more after speaking to the media Down Under about how he views his future.
“I’m here for three years, and that’s the plan,” he said, per The Sydney Morning Herald, amid speculation that he could be shipped off to an NRL rival or even back to Super League.
The $650,000 per year three-year deal that Souths handed to Lewis Dodd has been criticised plenty in the media and any move away from the club would likely require the Rabbitohs to chip in on his salary.
What Lewis Dodd said about his NRL future
Despite that, the Englishman is backing himself to stick it out and add to the team, not just this week, but heading into next year and beyond.
“I’ve got a chance now, we’ll see where that will take me into the off-season, and the start of next (season).
“I’ve done everything I can to be at a level where I think I can do what’s right for the team, do my job in the team, and not let anyone down.
“That started last week, and hopefully that will continue to the end of the year.”
Whilst Lewis Dodd was straight to the point about his intent to stay on at Souths, the club’s head coach was far less revealing in his comments.
When asked about Dodd’s future, Bennett said: “That’s a good question, I can’t answer that for you right now.
“Lewis has an opportunity Friday night to play again and show us what he can do and can’t do. Let’s wait and see how that goes.
“He’s got an opportunity to play, he hasn’t had that all year, he started last week, he’s starting this week, we’ll all be smarter in a couple of weeks time.”
It’s hardly a resounding vote of confidence but Dodd will get the opportunity to let his playing do the talking, at least this week and potentially beyond whilst Wighton serves his ban.
