It took just one phone call from Wayne Bennett for Lachie Ilias to realise his time at South Sydney was over.
Ilias will wear the St George Illawarra No. 7 jersey in Saturday’s Charity Shield when he goes up against his former Souths teammates for the first time.
Damien Cook will also get the chance to play against the club who cut him loose after nine seasons.
“We’re not going out to prove anyone wrong – we’re going out there to play footy and prove ourselves right,” Ilias said.
There were questions at the end of last year about where Ilias would fit into Wayne Bennett’s plans, especially after Souths signed English halfback Lewis Dodd.
Rather than give Ilias false hope, Bennett told the 24-year-old he would not be his starting playmaker for round one, even if he was fit.
“I had a few phone calls with Wayne,” Ilias told this masthead. “They were all positive. I asked him where he sees me, and he said he saw me as a No. 6, a No. 7, or hooker – someone who can cover a few positions. I told him, ‘sweet’.
Lachlan Ilias on the sideline during the match against the Roosters.Credit: NRL Imagery
“Then on another call I told him I still believed I was a halfback, and asked, ‘if I’m the best halfback available come round one, will I play?’.
“Wayne said, ‘no’.
“I appreciated his honesty. He said he believed I was a first-grade player, and I deserved to have a crack wherever I went. He was really supportive.”
Ilias had the daunting job of replacing premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds, whose shadow he struggled to escape for a couple of seasons. When then coach Jason Demetriou famously declared Ilias would be “the best halfback the club has had in a long time” after a win late in the 2023 season, it only ensured the comparisons with Reynolds remained.
Lachlan Ilias at Dragons training. Credit: Dragons media
“I took that comment as encouragement; it was a good little boost at the time,” Ilias said. “It didn’t change anything at training or my mental state. I didn’t feel pressure from it.
“I loved my time at Souths, I love all those boys, but a fresh start is what I needed.
“After our first year, we made the prelims, and we could have won that game against Penrith in 2022. We led 12-0 just before half-time.
“I think it still haunts the boys now, thinking what could have been. After that we just expected to take the next step, but it wasn’t to be.
“I can’t put my finger on what happened [midway through 2023]. We couldn’t blame it on anything.”
Ilias’ manager Braith Anasta sought permission to look elsewhere after the club signed Dodd, and hit the phones again once Bennett made his intentions clear.
The Dragons were one club that had shown initial interest, as did the Knights and Bulldogs. Once Ben Hunt was granted an early release from the Dragons, coach Shane Flanagan tabled a two-year deal to Ilias, a solid defender who was returning from a horrific broken leg.
Ilias’ last game for Souths was in the NSW Cup when he shattered his right leg. He wanted to stay back to watch first grade, but was rushed to Mater Hospital where he underwent surgery less than 12 hours later.
Few expect the Dragons to challenge for the title this year, and Ilias and five-eighth Kyle Flanagan were dubbed the worst halves combination in the competition.
“I don’t care – I know we will work, and Kyle thinks the same thing,” Ilias said. “I think we’re a real chance at top four. The top eight is the minimum.
“We had a fan day at Kogarah, and they’re just as passionate [as Souths fans]. There’s definitely a rivalry there. They all told me how much they hate Souths. I don’t hate them. [But] when I play against them, I will.”
In other trial news this weekend:
- Jarome Luai will skip the Wests Tigers’ final outing against Parramatta on Friday, but will play in round one, club officials insisted. The Eels have also rested Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses, but Zac Lomax debuts in the centres for the blue and golds;
- Latrell Mitchell will skipper South Sydney in their Charity Shield clash against the Dragons;
- The Broncos have gone all out with big guns Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan named to trial against the Bulldogs.