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'What an introduction': Dodd ready to debut in Good Friday furnace
Author
Cameron Mee
NRL Reporter
Wed 16 Apr 2025, 12:01 PM
South Sydney recruit Lewis Dodd couldn't have picked a bigger game to make his NRL debut.
A record-breaking crowd of up to 70,000 fans cramming into Accor Stadium for the traditional Good Friday showdown between the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs.
Not only is it the biggest game of the regular season but it will also be Dodd's first initiation into the NRL after his off-season arrival from England.
The playmaker has been named on the interchange for the clash, with Cody Walker set to wear the No.7 jumper if he can complete a fitness test on Thursday.
Dodd's delayed debut didn't come by choice, with injuries, a pair of suspensions and the stunning rise of youngster Jamie Humphreys forcing the playmaker to start his Australian career in reserve grade.
But teammate Jai Arrow is confident the delay will ultimately work in Dodd's favour as he prepares for an intense initiation into the NRL.
"It was a good thing for him to get used to playing rugby league in Australia," Arrow said. "They're two very different games, the Super League and the NRL. There's some similarities but a lot of differences as well. They say it's a bit faster over here.
"For him to gain that confidence playing in NSW Cup was only going to be good for him. He's five weeks into the season now so I'm sure he'll be fine."
Dodd's signature was celebrated last May with plenty of fanfare, the halfback the biggest name in English rugby league.
The playmaker led St Helens to UK Super League and Challenge Cup titles and kicked the winning field goal in their 2023 World Club Challenge victory over the Panthers.
Dodd's performance in that game instantly put him on the radar of NRL clubs and the Rabbitohs were thrilled to win the race for his signature.
Eleven months on, the halfback is set to play his first game for South Sydney on the biggest stage of all.
Former Bulldogs skipper James Graham will watch the match with torn allegiances. The retired prop is as passionate a Canterbury fan as they come, however he played alongside Dodd at St Helens in the final year of his career.
Graham quickly realised the hype was real and expects the youngster to thrive in Australia.
"What an introduction to the NRL," Graham told NRL.com. "To play your first game on Good Friday with a crowd of 60-70,000, it doesn't get any better than this.
"I'm expecting him to rise to the occasion, play his own game and Wayne will have a plan for him.
"I want the Bulldogs to win but I want Lewis to perform well. It was a brave decision as a young English half to put it all on the line and come out here. I don't think he's ever been spoken about so much and he hasn't even played a game, which would come as a big shock to him. I'm pleased he'll get his opportunity on Friday."
Dodd has impressed his South Sydney teammates with his attitude off the field and his performances on the training paddock in recent weeks.
The past couple of months clearly didn't go to plan but Arrow said you wouldn't know it by watching Dodd.
"He's always struck me as having that type of character," Arrow said. "He was never going to kick stones.
"He was always going to have a smile on his face, come to training, continue to work hard and continue to have fun with us and he's done that."
With all eyes on Accor Stadium on Friday afternoon, Dodd will finally get his first chance to prove the hype was worth it and his Rabbitohs teammates are determined to help him deliver on the big stage.
"He's a great player," hooker Peter Mamouzelos told NRL.com. "He's won multiple titles over in the UK and he's had to wait for his opportunity but we're all ready for it and we're going to back him and do our best to look after him.
"As Wayne says, 'just go out there and do a job' and I feel like that's what he's going to do."
South Sydney recruit Lewis Dodd has been backed to shine on debut in front of an expected record crowd on Friday afternoon.
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