The Rabbitohs\u2019 signing of Lewis Dodd has been labelled a \u201c$2 million mistake\u201d, as he prepares to start at halfback for the first time in the NRL.<\/p>\n
Dodd was named in the No.7 jersey for South Sydney\u2019s clash with the Sharks on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
In his four previous NRL games this season, Dodd came off the bench in three games, and started at five-eighth in the other one.<\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n Even with his hefty $650,000 salary, Dodd has been regularly overlooked for selection by coach Wayne Bennett, even amid an injury crisis at the club in 2025.<\/p>\n NRL 360 co-host Dan Ginnane wondered whether Dodd had been signed by the Rabbitohs, solely because he kicked the match winning field goal for St Helens in the World Club Challenge back in 2023, when they prevailed 13-12 over Penrith.<\/p>\n 23-year-old Dodd is contracted with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2027 season on a three-year deal.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there a chance that Souths pushed the button when he kicked that field goal in the World Club Challenge, which is really, let\u2019s be honest, in our part of the world, it\u2019s a glorified exhibition game?\u201d Ginnane asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe kicks a field goal, they win 13-12, is that a $2 million field goal that he kicked?\u201d<\/p>\n Panellist Andrew Webster agreed the Dodd signing was a mysterious one.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is one of the more bizarre recruitments, really,\u201d Webster added.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard from people both in the UK and other recruiters here the NRL that they were surprised that Souths signed him and threw that amount of money at him.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, it\u2019s a $2 million mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard of other Super League clubs being interested in getting him but they want to be offering some pretty heavy coin for Lewis Dodd to want to move away from the $700,000 a year contract he\u2019s on.\u201d<\/p>\n Host Braith Anasta said the Rabbitohs\u2019 recruitment has left a lot to be desired.<\/p>\n \u201cI really think they\u2019ve got to change a lot about their recruitment, Souths,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they\u2019ve got to take a different direction, moving forward. I say this because, you look at their NSW Cup team, they\u2019re coming last, their Jersey Flegg second last, their junior competition is nowhere where it used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Webster believes South Sydney need to add to their stocks in the forwards.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018WHERE IT ALL CAME DOWN\u2019: An \u2018aha moment\u2019 changed everything for NRL icon<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018FORCED TO MAKE A CHOICE\u2019: Kevvie faces baptism of fire as three stars to defect <\/a><\/p>\n