Yesterday’s bad result against Hull KR has been compounded for St Helens with official confirmation that Lewis Dodd will be a South Sydney Rabbitohs player from 2025.
It had been first reported a week ago that the 22-year-old playmaker would be heading to the NRL and that has now been officially confirmed with South Sydney announcing his signature.
Lewis Dodd will be a major loss for St Helens with the young half pivotal in the 2023 season for the club after his return from injury. Souths have described Dodd as “one of the most exciting and skilful players” in Super League in their press release.
Lewis Dodd to the NRL made official
Credit: Imago Images
Dodd had previously referenced ambitions to head down under but it still came as a surprise last week when the reports emerged that he would sign a three-year deal with current strugglers South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The news was even more confusing given the untenable position of head coach Jason Demetriou, who has since been sacked, prompting suggestions that somebody like Wayne Bennett could be set for the job.
Despite that Bennett has claimed he has never seen Dodd play, but that will change next year with Dodd’s move to Souths now confirmed.
The club announced his capture via their website stating: “The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the signing of English premiership-winning halfback Lewis Dodd for the next three seasons today.”
“One of England’s rising stars” – Souths swoop for Dodd
Credit: David Neilson/SWpix.com –
Head of Football, Mark Ellison, who it was reported would travel to England to finalise the deal, said: “Lewis is one of the rising stars in England and he indicated to us that he wanted to test himself in the NRL and the Rabbitohs were the Club he wanted to do that with.
“He is only 22 years-of-age, but he has already won a Super League Premiership and a World Club Challenge with St Helens and he has all of the attributes that it takes to make it in the NRL.
“Our dealings with him have been first class and we’re looking forward to having him join our Club for the 2025 pre-season. We wish him the best of luck for the remainder of the season with St Helens.”
With the deal now official, Saints will go into overdrive looking for a replacement for their young half with other key players such as Tommy Makinson expected to leave for Catalans and the likes of Konrad Hurrell out of contract.
It’s also a huge coup for the Bunnies who currently sit at the foot of the NRL and they beamed about Dodd in their press release.
Souths wrote: “Dodd, 22, is one of the most exciting and skilful players currently playing in the Super League with St Helens, having made his first team debut against Wigan in 2020, going on to play 75 first team matches for the Saints to date in the Super League and Challenge Cup competitions, including winning the Super League Grand Final over Catalans in 2021.
“He also kicked the winning field goal to claim the World Club Challenge in 2023 over the Penrith Panthers, for an incredible 74% win-percentage in the Super League, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge matches.”
