South Sydney Rabbitohs recruit Lewis Dodd has come under heavy scrutiny as he prepares to start at halfback for the first time in the NRL.
Dodd has been named in the No. 7 jersey for the Rabbitohs' clash against the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night, marking his first start at halfback since joining the club.
So far in the 2025 NRL season, Dodd has featured in four matches, three off the bench and one start at five-eighth.
Despite his $650,000-per-season salary, the 23-year-old has been repeatedly overlooked by coach Wayne Bennett, even as the Rabbitohs battle an injury crisis worth over $6 million in sidelined talent.
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Speaking on NRL 360, co-host Dan Ginnane questioned whether Dodd’s signing was based on a single moment being his match-winning field goal for St Helens in the 2023 World Club Challenge against Penrith.
“Is there a chance that Souths pushed the button when he kicked that field goal in the World Club Challenge, which is really, let’s be honest, in our part of the world, it’s a glorified exhibition game?” Ginnane asked.
“He kicks a field goal, they win 13-12, is that a $2 million field goal that he kicked?”
Dodd is currently signed with South Sydney on a three-year deal through to the end of 2027.
Panellist Andrew Webster echoed Ginnane’s concerns, calling the high-profile acquisition one of the more puzzling moves in recent NRL memory.
“It is one of the more bizarre recruitments, really,” Webster said.
“I’ve heard from people both in the UK and other recruiters here in the NRL that they were surprised that Souths signed him and threw that amount of money at him.
"Look, it’s a $2 million mistake. I’ve 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’s on.”
Host Braith Anasta also weighed in, questioning the broader direction of South Sydney’s recruitment and development strategy.
“I really think they’ve got to change a lot about their recruitment, Souths,” Anasta said.
“I think they’ve got to take a different direction, moving forward. I say this because, you look at their NSW Cup team, they’re coming last, their Jersey Flegg second last, their junior competition is nowhere near where it used to be.”
With a mounting injury toll and questions surrounding the club's high-value signings, the Rabbitohs' recruitment strategy is under more pressure than ever as they try to salvage their 2025 NRL campaign.