Rabbitohs plan to sign top halfback from St Helens
A new halfback appears certain to shake things up as Dean Hawkins and Lachlan Ilias’ pairings continue to struggle.
The expected arrival of star English halfback Lewis Dodd from St Helens will give the South Sydney Rabbitohs a boost in their starting lineup.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Rabbitohs, who are currently at the bottom of the NRL premiership ladder, are in the final stages of negotiating a three- to four-year contract with Dodd, which is anticipated to start the following season.
The Canberra Raiders, Canterbury Bulldogs, and St. George Illawarra Dragons were mentioned in earlier rumors at Zero Tackle as possible destinations for the explosive playmaker.
In Australia, Dodd is known for being the player who guided his team to victory over the Penrith Panthers in the 2023 World Club Challenge.
In the upcoming days, Mark Ellison, the football manager of the Rabbitohs, will travel to England to finalize the agreement and meet with other possible recruits.
Dodd, 22, is one of the Super League’s most sought-after players after being a key component of St Helens’ recent triumphs, which included a 2021 premiership. Uncertainties surround the team’s current halves and coaching staff surround his possible addition to the Rabbitohs roster.
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With one season remaining on his contract, injured halfback Lachlan Ilias’s future is a subject of increasing speculation. The number seven, Dean Hawkins, is out of contract at the end of this season.
It is possible that Dodd and Cody Walker, who is also in the final season of his contract, will establish a strong halves tandem for the Rabbitohs in 2025.
Dodd’s choice to favor the Rabbitohs over other NRL teams, such as the Dolphins, who were also in the running because of Dodd’s good relationship with their new coach Kristian Woolf, represents a major victory for South Sydney. At St Helens, Woolf and Dodd have a track record of accomplishment.
The Rabbitohs’ recruitment drive is a part of a larger plan to restructure their team, which will also see veteran prop Tom Burgess play in the Super League the following season.
