Warrington Wolves captain George Williams has had his say on ex-St Helens man Lewis Dodd after the half’s tough start to life in the NRL.
Williams is no stranger to the pressures of the NRL with the England skipper spending time in the competition with Canberra Raiders, signing for the Green Machine ahead of the 2020 season and helping guide them to the play-off semi-finals.
He would return to England midway through the next season after a release from the club on account of homesickness, ending his time in the NRL with 10 tries in 32 games.
One man who plays the same position as Williams but is yet to make his NRL debut is former St Helens playmaker Lewis Dodd and the Warrington Wolves skipper was asked about the South Sydney Rabbitohs man after his difficult start to life Down Under.
Three rounds into the season and Dodd hasn’t played an NRL game yet, instead featuring in the New South Wales Cup as former Manly youngster Jamie Humphreys starts ahead of him.
Warrington Wolves captain gives Lewis Dodd verdict amid tough NRL start
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The decision to back Humphreys has seen speculation Down Under that Souths may have to make a “hard call” on Dodd given his reported $650,000 per year three-year deal.
Picking up on that, Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney asked Williams after Warrington Wolves’ win over Dodd’s former team St Helens if he thinks the Englishman will play in Super League in 2025.
Carney put it to Williams: “Lewis Dodd, who left St Helens to go to South Sydney, will be a Super League player in 2026. Will you accept that or challenge that?”
“I challenge that,” Williams answered immediately, adding: “I challenge that, I think once he gets in the team I wish him all the best.
“I think a lot of people don’t want English lads to go over there and succeed so I’m right behind him and I hope he kills it.”
Dodd is among latest Englishman to head to the NRL with the 2023 crop seeing Morgan Smithies, Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce make the switch, whilst Williams’ former Warrington Wolves teammate Matty Nicholson also moved for 2025 and has made a flying start.
Of those players, Will Pryce, who is a playmaker like Dodd, has found game time hardest to come by and that’s seen Hull FC make a move for the ex-Huddersfield man for 2026.
Wire captain George Williams speaks on NRL pressure
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There is a trend that English halves who head to the NRL generally struggle more so than the forwards and Williams was asked about the pressure of playing in that role amidst all of the Australian media.
“It’s tough, it’s a vital position,” he said.
On Dodd, he stated: “He’s under pressure straight away. Straight away when you go over as an Englishman, a Pom they call us, you’re straight under pressure from the media.
“He got suspended for the first game and I’ve heard he’s injured now so he’s doing it tough but he’s a good little player and I’m sure he’ll come through it.”
It would appear that Dodd will have to keep impressing in the New South Wales Cup and hope for a potential drop in form, suspension or injury for either Cody Walker of Humphreys to force his way into the Souths team.
