Lewis Dodd: This is something you dream of as a kid

Lewis Dodd says he has achieved a childhood dream after helping St Helens win their third-ever World Club Challenge title with a victory over Penrith Panthers. 

Dodd, 21, kicked the winning field goal in golden point extra time to claim a 13-12 victory at the BlueBet Stadium against NRL champions Penrith.

St Helens led throughout the game, only for Brian To’o to score in the dying minutes with Nathan Cleary levelling the scores from the boot to send the game into extra-time.

It was almost deja vu for St Helens’ England internationals. However, Dodd stepped up and clinched the victory, with more than 1,000 travelling supporters in attendance.

In doing so, Paul Wellens’ side became only the second Super League team to claim a World Club Challenge in Australia following Wigan’s win back in 1994 over Brisbane.

“It’s quite hard to put into words,” Dodd said following the victory. “It’s a moment you dream of as a kid. It was my last thought before I went to bed last night.

“It doesn’t get any better than that. I’m just so proud to live it with these lads. They make my life and my job so good, I’m privileged to call them my team-mates and call them mates.

“It’s a moment you dream of.”

WATCH: St Helens show Super League class with first World Club Challenge try

Lewis Dodd on dream return to action

Dodd only returned to action earlier this year after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury during the side’s Good Friday win over Wigan.

He featured in Mark Percival’s testimonial match against Widnes, and again in the win over St George Illawarra Dragons last weekend in Australia.

He marked his third match back to full fitness with the golden moment, with half-back partner Jack Welsby also impressing throughout the 80.

“You can’t experience highs in this game if you don’t experience lows, I’m a big believer in that,” Dodd continued.

“Going what I’ve gone through, you can ask anyone with a long-term injury, you have to experience the lowest of the lows to experience the highest of the highs. Missing the Grand Final was definitely one of the lows but that was definitely one of the highs.

“Credit to both teams. Penrith are a classy outfit and are a really good side, there’s no denying it.

“Penrith came back in it but we knew that. We showed the world tonight that we will go toe to toe for as long as it takes. We believe in ourselves and hopefully the rest of the world does now.”

“It’s definitely something we’ll talk about for years to come.”

St Helens will return to England for their round two away fixture against Castleford a week Sunday, having spent three weeks in Australia.

Reflecting on his time Down Under, Dodd added: “It was brilliant. James Roby has played for 20 years and has never got the chance to do this (play in Australia with Saints) so I’m lucky to have done it in the first few years of my career.

“It’s something you are going to remember for the rest of your life. To be with the lads for three weeks experiencing a different culture and lifestyle and the games were brilliant for us as a club.

“It’s definitely something we’ll talk about for years to come.”

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