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'I think he's good enough': Jye Gray backs unwanted Rabbitoh Lewis Dodd to make it in the NRL

Alyssa Bone
Alyssa Bone

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Lewis Dodd may have failed to crack it at the Rabbitohs, but his teammate Jye Gray has no doubt the Englishman will find success in the NRL.

Dodd arrived at the club earlier this year but has now been informed he is free to negotiate with rivals, despite still having two years remaining on his contract.

With just six appearances to his name in the NRL, most of which were starting from the bench, questions have been raised about South Sydney's recruitment strategy.

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Even though the Rabbitohs are troubled by a loaded casualty ward, the 23-year-old playmaker was overlooked this week by coach Wayne Bennett.

If Dodd departs, the Rabbitohs will almost certainly be required to pay a significant portion of his $650,000-per-season salary.

Lewis Dodd of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Lewis Dodd of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.   NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Dodd was absent from the team's field session on Thursday afternoon, although club officials later confirmed he was working out in the gym while the squad trained outside.

"We love having Lewis at the club. I think he's a great footballer and he's an even better bloke off the field," Gray said of his teammate.

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"He's someone I enjoy being around, and I'm sure beyond this year he'll hopefully have a future in rugby league. Whatever he wants to do is up to him.

"I think he's good enough to (play at another club). We have an abundance of halves here, but he's a good footballer and he'll get a crack somewhere.

"He's a great fella, he's down to earth and that's the reason you see that side of him because he's a genuine person."

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Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs looks on.

Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs looks on. Getty

While it remains unclear if Dodd will feature in the final rounds for the Rabbitohs, Bennett will be hopeful that Latrell Mitchell will be fit to take to the field for Sunday's clash against the Titans, which is considered to be a wooden spoon playoff by some.

Mitchell has been sidelined since round 17 due to a quad injury, but in a promising sign for supporters and his teammates, he has been named in the reserves for round 23.

The 28-year-old managed to complete "about two-thirds" of the field session on Thursday, leaving teammates excited about the possibility of their skipper's return.

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"He looked good ... so fingers crossed he'll be a massive in for us," teammate Jacob Host said.

"He's a great leader who played for NSW this year, and I thought he was outstanding for them. He'll be captain if he's out there and that's what we need in the team – we need leaders – so it'll be great to have him back."

"He did a bit with the team today, so hopefully it's all good," added Gray.

"We'll just have to see how he pulls up tomorrow."

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