NRL and Queensland rugby league legend Sam Thaiday has shared his thoughts on Lewis Dodd’s time in the NRL, after the Englishman was given permission to leave the club just six matches into a three-year deal with South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Dodd moved Down Under from St Helens for the 2025 season, after being part of the 2021 and 2022 Grand Final winning squads.
He was brought in by former coach Jason Demetriou, and the signing was announced in May 2024. However, his dream move to the NRL has turned into something of a nightmare, after being heavily criticised by fans and media for below average performances.
He has now been told he is free to leave the club just half a dozen matches into his NRL career. Bennett had a conversation with the 23-year-old, admitting he is not part of his plans going forward.
Sam Thaiday, who played over 300 games for Brisbane Broncos in a 15-year career, has also questioned the move, but has shown support to Dodd and hopes he finds his feet somewhere else.
NRL legend on Lewis Dodd
Speaking on Nine’s Wide World of Sports, Thaiday said, quite bluntly: “It’s an interesting story, but at the end of the day, it’s terrible recruitment.”
He continued: “I feel for the young fellow. He’s had to uproot his whole life. He’s moved over to Australia from England thinking he’s going to get this chance to play in what I think is the premier game in the NRL, and now he’s been told that he can go an negotiate with other teams, unwanted by Wayne Bennett at the club.”
Bennett, a former England and Great Britain coach, is on track to finish bottom of the NRL for the first time in his illustrious coaching career.
Whilst the recruitment of Dodd is one issue, given his large contract and the effect that has on the salary cap, the former St Helens man has been used as a scapegoat for the poor Bunnies performances when ultimately, he is only a small cog in a broken down machine.
Injuries have not helped South Sydney this year, but having not won a match since the middle of May, there is clearly more going on than just an underperforming halfback.
Thaiday continued his support for Dodd, hoping that one day he returns to the biggest stages in rugby league.
He said: “At the end of the day, I hope he picks up another NRL club, but if not, I hope he goes back to the Super League and kills it. And I’m sure at some point we might see him on the international stage playing against Australia. Who knows, he might be back here in the NRL at some point as well.”
