In 1992, Knights coach David Waite moved Michael Hagan to Five-eighth and brought Rodwell into the first grade side as the halfback.
For his efforts, Rodwell won the Dally M Rookie of the Year in 1992 as well as the Norwich Rising Star award.
Despite playing 19 games in 1993 (and being featured in the NSWRL's television advertisement featuring Tina Turner and Jimmy Barnes singing Turner's hit song "Simply the Best" with the line "I think rugby league has changed enormously in the past few years"),[2] both Rodwell and the Knights had disappointing seasons finishing in 9th place.
Rodwell did not play first grade at all in 1994, and signed with new team, the Perth based Western Reds for 1995.
Rodwell was on the move again in 2000, this time to the Penrith Panthers where he would play the final two years of his career in Australia.