Braith Anasta has described the Rabbitohs\u2019 signing of Lewis Dodd as \u201cone of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history\u201d as reports emerged that coach Wayne Bennett had told Dodd he was free to leave the club.<\/p>\n
Bennett had a meeting with the Englishman on Tuesday and told him he was free to look elsewhere in the NRL or overseas.<\/p>\n
Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the number seven jersey, despite signing a huge $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club.<\/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 Anasta, the host of NRL 360, gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs\u2019 decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,\u201d Anasta said on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t get my head around it.\u201d<\/p>\n Co-host Gorden Tallis believes the club would have run the signing of Dodd past coach Wayne Bennett.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would think (Bennett) would have been asked (about Dodd),\u201d Tallis said.<\/p>\n Anasta said Solly and Ellison needed to take responsibility for the decision to sign Dodd.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact of the matter is Ello and Blake have got their hands all over it, it\u2019s just whether Wayne knew or not,\u201d Anasta added.<\/p>\n \u201cWayne might have had one fingerprint on it,\u201d Tallis said.<\/p>\n Anasta said he was always surprised by the Rabbitohs\u2019 decision to sign Dodd, given there were others playing in the Super League who seemed more suitable to join an NRL club.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there, and even recruitment back here, is that there\u2019s four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s just some accountability that needs to be taken there.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018FURIOUS\u2019:NRL set to punish Panthers for trainer as extreme rule change floater<\/a><\/p>\n CRAWLS: Rap sheet that should count against Penrith in \u2018unforgivable\u2019 new drama <\/a><\/p>\n