James Graham, an esteemed figure in rugby league, has expressed his bewilderment over the recent situation surrounding Lewis Dodd, who debuted as the starting halfback for the Rabbitohs last weekend. Dodd joined the club on a substantial $700,000 annual contract despite being relatively unknown in Australia. His signing raised eyebrows, especially since he had been relegated to reserve grade at St Helens just prior, following a noteworthy field-goal performance in the World Club Challenge the previous year.
Since joining the Rabbitohs, Dodd has played five matches, coping with the team’s injury challenges, but has only completed a full 80 minutes in one game, with 68 minutes logged in a match against the Sharks recently. Following the match, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett stated that Dodd “didn’t let anybody down,” indicating a level of confidence in the player’s performance.
Graham has been vocal about the decision-making processes within the club, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding Dodd’s signing, which occurred shortly after Jason Demetriou was dismissed as head coach. He queried on Triple M’s NRL Daily about the rationale behind the signing and the consultations involved: “Who brokered the deal? And who did that person consult?” He stressed the importance of pausing player signings during such uncertain periods concerning coaching staff, particularly for a key on-field position like that of the halfback.
Wade Graham, a premiership-winning player with the Sharks, echoed similar concerns regarding the Rabbitohs’ recruitment strategy. He reflected on the confusion surrounding the signing, noting that Dodd was brought in when Demetriou was still the head coach and questioned who was truly managing player contracts during that transitional period. Graham suggested that Bennett’s lack of integration of Dodd into the team this season, along with the player’s significant contract, indicates deeper issues within the Rabbitohs organisation.
Despite these controversies, Graham remains optimistic about Dodd’s potential to excel in the NRL, having previously been a teammate at St Helens. The overarching sentiment among commentators and former players is that the Rabbitohs need to address their internal processes and management to ensure clearer direction and more effective player recruitment moving forward.