St Helens Veteran Confirms Departure of Star Player for NRL Move
Former Saints great James Graham has revealed that one of the club’s current standout players will depart at the end of the season for a dream switch to the NRL. The focus of the past week has centered around Saints scrum-half Lewis Dodd, who is reportedly joining the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2025 campaign.
Despite the recent upheaval at Redfern, with Jason Demetriou recently dismissed as head coach, Dodd’s transfer appears to be a done deal, as confirmed by Graham on the NRL360 show. The ex-England international disclosed that he has spoken to Saints CEO Eamonn McManus, who stated that Dodd’s move to the Rabbitohs is finalized, and the player ‘has gone‘ from the Super League outfit.
“If a coach comes in and doesn’t like the halfback that they just signed, there’s your excuse,” Graham explained. “I have spoken to the St Helens CEO, who basically said he (Dodd) has gone. Also, if I’m Lewis Dodd, I’m thinking, who’s my coach. And you know what I’m not accepting, is ‘I’ don’t know’.”
Delving deeper into the specifics of Dodd’s impending transfer, Graham believes the playmaker has been given assurances about the identity of South Sydney’s next head coach prior to signing, with former England boss Wayne Bennett rumored to be Demetriou’s replacement.
The prospect of Dodd reuniting with the experienced Bennett at the Rabbitohs is an intriguing one, as the veteran coach aims to guide the struggling NRL giants back to their former glories, with the England international set to play a vital role in that endeavor.
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