St Helens boss comments on Lewis Dodd NRL speculation after half-back signs with new agency

St Helens head coach Paul Wellens insists that he has no qualms over Lewis Dodd’s future after the talented half-back recently signed with a leading NRL agent.  

Dodd, 21, has signed a contract with SFX Sports Down Under, suggesting that the star man is eyeing up a potential move to the NRL.

The Saints academy product has made 40 career appearances for the first team, scoring 15 tries and kicking 11 goals.

He attracted much-deserved attention following his match-winning drop-goal in the World Club Challenge win over Penrith earlier this season.

Dodd is currently contracted with the Totally Wicked Stadium side until the end of 2024, with coach Wellens seeing no issue in the player’s decision to sign with a new agency.

St Helens coach addresses Lewis Dodd speculation

“Lewis is a great young lad and like any player does, he has the right to sign with any manager or agency as they want,’ Wellens told Love Rugby League.

“We respect those decisions, and Lewis is with us in 2023 and is contracted for 2024.

“We’ll obviously do all we can as a club to try and keep him here. He’s a player we love and value and we feel he is instrumental to our continued success.

“But also, Lewis is a grown adult who can make decisions for himself. What I do know with Lewis and his relationship with the club is that it’s a respectful one.

“So any conversations that happen, whether that’s now or three months, six or 12, they’ll be done in the right way. 

“There’s nothing more to really add on the matter.”

“He’s a person who fits the values that we want here at St Helens.”

Having made his Super League debut in 2020, he went on to feature in the 2021 Grand Final victory over Catalans, named in the halves alongside Jonny Lomax.

He was rewarded with the number seven shirt in 2022 following the departure of Theo Fages, before suffering a season-ending injury in the Good Friday derby against Wigan.

The playmaker marked his return during 2023’s pre-season, first featuring against Widnes in Mark Percival’s testimonial, crossing for a try.

He later featured against St George Illawarra Dragons in Australia before claiming the World Club Challenge over back-to-back NRL champions Penrith.

“He’s a person who fits the values that we want here at St Helens,” Wellens continued on Dodd.

“He’s a really humble, hard-working young man who wants to get better despite the success that he’s already had in his career so far.

“We’ll help him to do that and continue to do that whether he’s here this year, next year or beyond, that will remain to be seen in the future.

“But right now is what we’re concentrating on and right now we have a fantastic player who will help us be successful moving forward.”

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