Souths ‘having second thoughts’ over high-priced recruit in midst of disaster first season

It’s appearing more and more likely that halfback Lewis Dodd’s time at the Rabbitohs will be short-lived.

The highly regarded Englishman signed a three-year deal worth $650,000 a season with the Bunnies, with the club expecting him to be the team’s first choice halfback.

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However, Dodd’s first season at Souths has frankly been a disaster, falling well down the pecking order behind Jamie Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan.

He’s seemingly fallen out of favour with coach Wayne Bennett, with Dodd only featuring in three NRL games.

Even this weekend, with Sullivan and five-eighth Cody Walker injured, Bennett has shifted Jack Wighton into six. Dodd has been named on the bench in jersey No. 17.

In further grim signs for Dodd’s future at the club, Souths announced this week that they’ve signed promising half Jonah Glover on a two-year deal from 2026.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes Dodd’s days at the club are numbered, with the 23-year-old set to sit down with South Sydney brass in the coming weeks.

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“I’m hearing that Souths are really having second thoughts about his three-year contract and they will soon have talks with his agent about his future with the club. Whether it’s back to England or shopping him around to another club,” Rothfield said on Triple M.

“His NSW Cup form hasn’t all that particularly good and it’s just not worked out for him.

“I think Souths will be prepared to give him the rest of the year, but moving forward, I just don’t think it’s going to happen for him … I don’t think there’s a lot of confidence in the team around his football.”

Dodd played 89 games for St Helens in the Super League, winning a grand final in 2021.

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