Lewis Dodd has been told he is free to leave South Sydney with Wayne Bennett telling the beleaguered Englishman he can see out the remainder of his three-year deal at another club in the NRL or Super League.
And the Bunnies could be losing another of their key playmakers with Jye Gray in the sights of R360 talent scouts.
Dodd put in a below-par performance at halfback against Brisbane in only his third start since being brought to the last-placed Rabbitohs on big money this year.
Bennett signed his own Souths deal after Dodd’s was confirmed, and the coach has preferred Wighton, Humphreys, Cody Walker, Jayden Sullivan, Latrell Mitchell and Jye Gray as starting halves options throughout a season of injury carnage at Redfern.
The veteran coach told The Daily Telegraph that he was not part of South Sydney’s plans.
“I have had a conversation with him and I have told him he is free to explore his options,” Bennett said.
Dodd was dropped for this Sunday’s “Spoon Bowl” showdown with the Titans on the Gold Coast with Bennett selecting Jamie Humphreys and rookie Ashton Ward ahead of him in the halves.
The 23-year-old former St Helens playmaker, who has spent 12 matches in the NSW Cup, is likely to return to the UK but the Rabbitohs are set to fork out a percentage of his salary for a Super League club to take him on.
According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, organisers of the global rebel rugby competition proposed to kick off in 2027 have targeted Gray as a potential recruit.
The livewire utility played union at The Southport School on the Gold Coast before he was signed by the Bunnies.
Lewis Dodd. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Off contract at the end of next season, he could command close to $1 million per season with R360, which would swamp any offer likely to come his way from NRL clubs.
The 21-year-old has scored 11 tries in 28 appearances for Souths, often filling in at fullback when Latrell Mitchell has been unavailable.
Gray has been named in the No.1 jersey for Sunday’s trip to Gold Coast but could be shifted into the halves if Mitchell gets the green light to make his return from a thigh injury.
Tigers snare another Panther
Mavrik Geyer will link with the Wests Tigers next year after being squeezed out at Penrith.
Geyer – who has made 14 first grade appearances for Penrith since his debut in 2024 – has signed a one-year deal, with his presence at Concord creating further depth on the edge for Benji Marshall and his coaching staff.
“Very excited for the 2026 season to rip in and prove myself in the orange and black. Come pre-season I’ll be hungry and ready to go,” Geyer said.
“It’s a great time to be involved with the club and the chance to work under Benji and be a part of what the West Tigers are building is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Marshall said Geyer was ready to take the next step to establish himself as a regular first-grader.
I’ve been really impressed with Mavrik in what I’ve seen both on and off the field, he has all the characteristics we’re looking for in an edge back-rower.”
The Tigers are also set to add Ethan Roberts from the Roosters while they have already locked in Newcastle’s Kai Pearce-Paul in a further boost to their pack.
Pezet keeping options open
Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind.
Melbourne’s half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured.
Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed.
Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030.
The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest.
Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal.
Jonah Pezet is tackled. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to play NRL every week,” Pezet said.
“As a kid you grow up and that’s what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities.
“But I’m just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that’s when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team.”
Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020.
Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering.
“I think I’ll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club … they’ll sort it all out,” Pezet said.
“With Hughesy going down there’s an opportunity there, and I’ll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I’m ready for that wherever it might be.
“Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I’m going to get, so that’s what I’m focused on.”
The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes’ replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month.
Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad.
with AAP
