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St Helens man makes Lewis Dodd prediction amid Wayne Bennett impact

St Helens

St Helens captain Jonny Lomax believes Wayne Bennett can make a huge impact on his former teammate Lewis Dodd. Dodd left the Totally Wicked Stadium at the end of the 2024 Super League season to join up with NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs and he has spent the last few months training under Bennett down under.

The expectation is that Dodd will start for the Rabbitohs and form a partnership with Souths’ star six Cody Walker, with Jayden Sullivan providing competition in the pivots. Such a role comes with its pressures, though, particularly at a club like Souths, which is one of the biggest down under.

However, Lomax knows more than most about the impression Bennett is capable of making on players. The Saints man worked under Bennett with England and Great Britain during the Australian’s time in charge of the international set up and he’s convinced he can help take Dodd to the next level.

“He can probably do quite a lot,” Lomax told Serious About RL when asked what Bennett could offer his former St Helens teammate. “With Wayne what people don’t see in the media is the jokey, warm character that he is.

“He demands certain a level of standard and respect and the way that he holds himself but he has a real care for individuals. He’s a fantastic person. He had a big impact on myself and I’m sure he’s going to have a massive impact on Doddy.

“I know that Doddy, from the conversation we have had, had spoken to him before he moved over and he was very helpful in making the transition to Australian life. He’ll offer an awful lot from a coaching perspective but also a human perspective and that’s something you can’t fully understand with Wayne until you have worked with him.”

He added: “I met up with Doddy before he went for a coffee, just to wish him all the best. I’m keeping an eye on the Souths page I’m currently following to see how he’s getting on. I’ve given him a little message, only the once, but I probably will again soon as the games start coming but for him it’s about bedding in and enjoying it.

“It’s a life experience as well as a rugby experience. I hope he’s enjoying it, I know he did go over with his girlfriend and I think his girlfriend might have come back for something to do with studies now. As the games approach I’ll send another message over but he looks like he’s really enjoying it and from the messages I have had with him I think he is.”

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