Champion halfback Dodd embraces pressure at Souths

Lewis Dodd is ready to embrace the pressure of being an NRL halfback, as the South Sydney recruit attempts to be the first English No.7 to win a premiership in almost 50 years.

One week into his first NRL pre-season at the Rabbitohs, Dodd was handed an early taste of life in Australia as he fronted the cameras for the first time on Saturday.

He expects increased scrutiny all season as compared to back in England, with all eyes also on Wayne Bennett's return as the Rabbitohs' saviour.

Dodd also arrives trying to create history, with Gary Stephens the last English halfback to take a team to a premiership at Manly in 1976.

Dodd is no stranger to the NRL, watching with interest as a child with his father in northern England.

He has long dreamed of playing in Australia and says he was speechless when Souths showed interest last year.

But at age 22 and with an English Super League title already under his belt at St Helen's, he expects the NRL to be different to anything he has experienced so far.

"It's the week in week out, you have to be at your best," Dodd told reporters at Souths' sponsorship announcement with Wahu.

"And you have to take the brunt of it. If the team is going well you get the plaudits, and if the team is going badly the halfback will get the downfall.

"That's the bit I enjoy most about the halfback, you lead the team and you're responsible for what the team do.

"It's that moment where you're nervous but you're excited and you've got butterflies in your stomach. You think should I be here?

"That pressure, I've always said money can't buy that feeling."

Dodd has already experienced that in Australia, making a serious first impression in the country when he kicked a golden-point field goal to sink Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.

It was that match and the preceding stint in Australia that convinced Dodd it was time to chase his dream of moving to the NRL.

"You get a little taste for it, and wonder what it would be like," Dodd said.

"Them moments though, it's pretty fairytale.

"If I missed that and Penrith go on and Nathan Cleary or Jarome Luai kick the field goal, they get all the plaudits and I am the villain. That's what them moments are.

"I will never shy away from those moments. That's where you grow as a player."

Dodd has also learned his lessons since.

He signed with South Sydney in April, but within months was dropped by St Helens during a mid-season form slump.

The half was also concerned he would not form part of Bennett's plans, when the master coach's Souths return was confirmed weeks after his signing.

But any fears of being on the outer with the coach were quickly allayed this week, when he became the butt of a Bennett joke on day one of training.

In their first meeting, Bennett asked Dodd for his name and then responded 'Lewis who?' and then followed it up with "Oh, you're the Pommy".

"It was funny, I enjoyed it. I thought I'm one of those players who now has a story about Wayne Bennett," Dodd said.