As the South Sydney recruit looks to become the first English No. 7 to win a premiership in over 50 years, Lewis Dodd is prepared to take on the responsibility of being an NRL halfback.
Dodd made his first appearance in front of the cameras on Saturday, one week into his debut NRL preseason with the Rabbitohs, giving him a sneak peek at life in Australia.
Compared to back in England, he anticipates more scrutiny throughout the season, with everyone’s eyes on Wayne Bennett’s comeback as the Rabbitohs’ savior.
With Gary Stephens as the final English halfback to lead a team to a premiership at Manly in 1976, Dodd also comes looking to make history.
As a child in northern England, Dodd watched the NRL with interest, so he is not unfamiliar with it.
He claims he was stunned when Souths expressed interest last year since he had always wanted to play in Australia.
However, at the age of 22, having already won an English Super League title at St Helen’s, he anticipates that the NRL will be unlike anything he has ever encountered.
At Souths’ sponsorship announcement with Wahu, Dodd told reporters, “You have to be at your best every single week.”
“And the brunt of it must fall on you. You receive praise if the team is performing well, and the halfback will suffer if the team is performing poorly.
“The thing I like best about being a halfback is that you are in charge of the squad and accountable for its actions.
“You’re feeling anxious, but you’re also excited and experiencing butterflies in your tummy. Do you think I should be present?
“That pressure, I’ve always said money can’t buy that feeling.”
Dodd has already gone through that in Australia, where he made a significant impression upon arriving by sinking Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge with a golden-point field goal.
Dodd was persuaded to pursue his dream of joining the NRL after that game and his previous stay in Australia.
“You get a little taste for it, and wonder what it would be like,” Dodd stated.
However, those moments are reminiscent of a fairy tale.
“Nathan Cleary or Jarome Luai would receive all the praise and I would be seen as the bad guy if I missed it and Penrith continued to advance and kick the field goal. They are moments like that.
“I will never be afraid of those situations. You develop as a player there.
Since then, Dodd has also learned his lessons.
He joined South Sydney in April, however St Helens cut him after a few months due to a mid-season decline in his play.
When the master coach’s return to Souths was confirmed weeks after he signed, the half was also worried that he would not be included in Bennett’s plans.
However, any concerns about being on the outside with the coach were promptly dispelled this week when he was made the target of a Bennett joke on the first day of practice.
Bennett asked Dodd for his name during their first encounter, to which Dodd replied, “Lewis who?” before adding, “Oh, you’re the Pommy.”
“I liked it; it was funny. Dodd remarked, “I assumed I was one of those athletes who now had a story about Wayne Bennett.”
