Former St Helens playmaker Lewis Dodd has spoken out after making his NRL debut with the Englishman answering a key question.
“Not once” was Dodd’s reply when asked if he had ever questioned his decision to leave St Helens and Super League, despite the fact it took him until Round Seven to finally debut and there had been talks about him being possibly cut.
Those talks started back in March when Dodd, who is on a reported $650,000, hadn’t debuted due to a ban and the form of emerging star Jamie Humphreys. That saw NRL journalist James Hooper state: “It’s early doors, but they might have to make a hard call on Lewis Dodd.”
Admitting that it was a “brutal” notion, Hooper spoke on potential interest from The Dolphins, who are coached by former St Helens boss Kristian Woolf, as he discussed how it could be that Souths can afford to accommodate a player on such a wage, who is not playing.
Fast forward a month and Dodd has finally played and he’s given his verdict on his NRL debut.
Former St Helens man Lewis Dodd reflects on ‘bittersweet’ NRL debut
Dodd was named as the utility interchange for Souths’ Good Friday game against Canterbury Bulldogs, a match played in front of over 65,000. Unfortunately for the ex-St Helens man, it wasn’t a debut to remember as he came on at 26-0 down in a game the Bunnies would lose 32-0, something he called “bittersweet”.
Head coach Wayne Bennett noted: “It was a bad scoreboard for him to go on, I can’t judge him on anything (from the game)”, however, Dodd has not been named in the squad for Round Eight.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Dodd said: “I feel confident that I can do a job. Whether that’s 20 minutes or 80 minutes, whatever Wayne wants from me.
“Week in, week out, I feel like I can do that job for him and the boys so it definitely filled me with a bit of confidence.”
The Englishman labelled the ruck speed and physicality as a key difference but conceded that isn’t a change from the elite games in Super League, such as the Good Friday derbies or Grand Finals where he used to represent St Helens.
After confirming that he had “not once” questioned his move, Dodd added: “I’ve been very lucky, the group of boys here have been through it all and they can give you some help from their experience with the media and what it’s like to play for South Sydney.
“The boys have looked after me and given me a bit of advice. It’s just the pressure that comes with the number and playing for this club and having this badge on your chest.
“It was a good first step. It’s definitely made me hungrier. Whatever Wayne and the club wants from me, I’m prepared to do that.”
