Lewis Dodd insists he has no hard feelings towards Wayne Bennett after what can only be described as a disastrous year in the NRL.
Dodd joined South Sydney Rabbitohs at the end of the 2024 Super League season after impressing in the red vee of St Helens. However, in the time that passed between signing the deal and joining up with the club, Wayne Bennett was appointed as head coach, replacing Jason Demetriou.
And, it was immediately clear that Dodd would have his work cut out to catch the legendary coach’s eye at the club. Dodd missed the opening round of the NRL season through suspension and he never truly managed to force his way into the side, making just six appearances in the NRL.
Only three of those games were starts and one came in his preferred number seven role, ensuring he struggled to showcase his true potential to the Australian audience. Ultimately, the half-back was informed that he didn’t have a future at Souths and he was released from his contract at the end of the season.
He has since returned to the comforts of Super League, penning a deal with Catalans Dragons, and he has spoken out about his experience down under for the first time.
Lewis Dodd on leaving NRL and Wayne Bennett
“I agreed with most of it at the start of the year because I wasn’t playing with the confidence that I had,” Dodd told the Daily Telegraph about finding himself out of Bennett’s plans at the start of the year. “If anyone is going to spot that it will be Wayne. So a lot of it I agreed with at the start.
“But when I was doing what he was asking, if it was defensively or offensively and I still wasn’t in first grade then maybe I thought it was something else. We spoke at the end of the year and I appreciated his honesty.
“Wayne is honest and I felt like he was honest most of the time. There were little things. I came to the club before he was here so I wonder if that had an impact. He might just think I wasn’t the half-back he wanted for his side.
“Sometimes a coach doesn’t think you’re good enough. You can’t take it too personally albeit being Wayne Bennett because he is a legend of the sport. I can’t just think that because one person thinks you’re not good enough for his side that means that 16 other coaches don’t think you’re good enough.”
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On the public criticism he received from Bennett, Dodd said: “I’ve always been fine with media. It’s never bothered (me). The lads who had been coached by him told me not to really take notice of what he says in the media. I know he is not going to lie to the media. There wasn’t much that he said to the media that he didn’t say to me personally. Some of the stuff he could’ve just told me and don’t put the fuel on the fire.”
He added: “Am I annoyed that I felt like I didn’t get a fair chance? Yes of course. But I understand not every coach is going to like you as a player or think you fit their team as a player. I have no hard feelings towards Wayne.”
The 2025 season certainly wasn’t a wasted season for Dodd, who spent the year on a steep learning curve. However, given his lack of game time he can be forgiven for believing that he never had the chance to show his true colours in a Souths shirt.
And, while he is leaving the NRL, he believes he has unfinished business down under
“That’s the only thing that I’ve got in my mind,” he said. “If I had come over and I got what I feel like was a fair chance and a fair go and I wasn’t up to it and I wasn’t good enough then I could live with that.
“But because I don’t feel like I have there is a burning desire to prove and test myself. When I came over 12 months ago I had that same feeling. I don’t feel like that will go away until I achieve what I want to achieve or I am given that chance. That’s the only thing that is in the back of my mind.
“If you don’t play every game you’re going to say you want to play. But that’s my only grievance with this year. I back my ability and I feel like if I got a fair shot I would’ve proved that I was good enough.
“I am looking forward to what’s next. If that opportunity came back up to test myself and prove myself it would be something I’ll think about.”
