NRL 2025: Lachlan Ilias opens up on Dragons move, Rabbitohs exit
On Monday Lachlan Ilias was at Rabbitohs training, but just one day later he was carpooling with former Souths teammates to Wollongong. Now the halfback opens up on his whirlwind Dragons move.
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Lachlan Ilias trained with South Sydney on Monday morning. A day later, he was carpooling with some former teammates to Wollongong and being fitted for St George Illawarra gear. As Ilias has discovered over the past 48 hours, rugby league can move fast.
“They don’t muck around,” Ilias said. “It moved all pretty quickly but … I am super appreciative of everything I did at Souths. I don’t think I could have started at a better club. Bit of a rollercoaster – had some great times and not so great times,
“I wouldn’t change anything. I loved every second there but that time has come to an end. I am looking forward to the next journey.”
That journey will kick off in earnest on Wednesday as Ilias joins in pre-season training with his new teammates. Time is of the essence.
He is working his way back from a badly broken leg but has already begun running and will return to full training in the new year.
Still, he will be nursed through to Christmas and after that it will be full steam ahead as he and five-eighth Kyle Flanagan attempt to forge a combination capable of helping the Dragons climb the ladder.
Ben Hunt was the driving force behind the Dragons for seven years but his departure led the Dragons to Ilias. They are big shoes to fill but it would be unfair to expect him to walk in and do what Hunt did.
The Queensland and Australian playmaker had years of experience behind him while Ilias is still in the early stages of his career, his progress stalled by injury last year.
He will start, however, from a good place, having grown up a Dragons fan – he even attended the 2010 grand final.
“I grew up in Five Dock and my soccer team was called the Five Dock Dragons,” Ilias said.
“I actually went to the 2010 grand final when they won. Now Dean Young is a coach of mine now. It is a bit of a full circle moment.”
Ilias insists he harbours no ill-will towards the Rabbitohs or coach Wayne Bennett. He spoke to Bennett at length in the lead-up to his decision and says the seven-time premiership winner wished him well.
“I spoke to Wayne through the whole process,” Ilias said.
“I wanted to see where I stood at Souths. He was really honest and I appreciated that. I kept him updated with the Dragons showing interest. “When I signed, I sent him a message as well. He supported my decision and said I deserve to play first grade – and that he looks forward to seeing my career.
“I was really impressed that he said that. He was supportive the whole time. Obviously very grateful for everything at Souths – they gave me the opportunity.”
He told his Souths teammates of his decision on Monday morning, packed his locker and completed his move on Tuesday.
His new locker is adjacent to former teammate Cook, who pushed as hard as anyone to get Ilias to the Dragons. No-one at Souths has a bad word to say about Ilias. The feeling is reciprocal.
“We play against them in the Charity Shield first of all – then round two at WIN Stadium and then ANZ Stadium later in the year,” Ilias said.
“It’s going to be weird if I am being honest with you. I obviously trained against them every single day. I might know a few of their plays.”
ILIAS FACES RABBITOHS-LIKE CHALLENGE AT DRAGONS
—Brent Read, David Riccio
Once again, Lachlan Ilias is stepping into some significant shoes. Ilias, 24 and returning from a serious knee injury, made his move to St George Illawarra official on Monday after securing a release from South Sydney.
He has been earmarked to play in the halves, helping the Dragons overcome the departure of Ben Hunt, who agitated for a release until St George Illawarra felt he was no longer worth the trouble.
Four years ago, it was Adam Reynolds’ departure at Souths that handed Ilias his chance. The Rabbitohs, in part because they were wary of blocking Ilias’ path, cut loose their veteran halfback when it looked like he would impede Ilias’ progress.
It was a decision that caused immense angst and as a result, shadowed Ilias’ every move for four years. There were days when it appeared to weigh him down.
It certainly tested the patience of Rabbitohs officials, who after making the dramatic decision to sever ties with Reynolds found themselves in the crosshairs when he led Brisbane to the grand final.
That chapter of Ilias’s life is now closed and he will arrive at the Dragons looking to help a club overcome the loss of another champion.
Hunt was the Dragons’ captain and undisputed talisman, good enough to still command a place in the Australian side and cause a four-way fight for his services when he became a free agent.
He is yesterday’s man at the Dragons and in Ilias, St George Illawarra have landed a player who showed during his four years in first grade flashes of his potential – he led the Rabbitohs to a preliminary final in 2022 – but suffered a badly broken leg last year that halted his progress.
His injury woes were compounded when the Rabbitohs signed St Helens half Lewis Dodd on a big-money deal in an indication that Ilias had slipped down the pecking order.
It had nothing to do with talent or personality. Ask anyone at Souths and they will tell you Ilias has both in abundance.
When there was talk that the Rabbitohs were weighing up a swap between Ilias and Jackson Hastings not so long ago, Ilias’ teammates were among those who made it clear that they wanted him to stay.
No-one at Souths has a bad word for Ilias and St George Illawarra have their hands on one of the most likeable young players in the game.
Their challenge, and that of coach Shane Flanagan, is to help him realise his undoubted potential in partnership with Flanagan’s son Kyle, who will likely play alongside Ilias in the halves.
“It’s fantastic to have Lachlan join us at the Dragons,” Flanagan said.
âœï¸ Two years
— St George Illawarra Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) November 25, 2024
Read more: https://t.co/viC54Ccz7Mpic.twitter.com/MU7Y6gdlDw
“He is coming into the best years of his career. His skill set complements our current squad and he joins the exciting group of players we have recruited ahead of the 2025 season.
“He is progressing well through his rehab and he will be ready to go for the trials. Lachlan joins a squad that is working hard and are committed to an improved 2025.
“We can’t wait for him to rip in with us.”
They may need to be patient, although Ilias is back in training and recovering well from his leg injury. He underwent a pair of medicals before the Dragons made their move and they showed their confidence in his recovery by handing him a two-year-deal that went beyond the 12 months he had left on his contract at Souths.
He will walk into a club in dire need of a playmaker after the departure of Hunt last month. The Dragons were also in pursuit of Cronulla utility Daniel Atkinson but it is understood the Sharks dug in their heels and insisted he honour his deal.
The Dragons may still pursue Atkinson although it would be for 2026. The problem for Flanagan is that he needs help straight away, which explains their decision to plump for Ilias.
While Souths were in no rush to usher him out the door, they also needed salary cap space so they could reshape their side. The Rabbitohs need strengthening in the middle of the field – Matt Lodge will be discussed as a potential target given he is off contract and has a relationship with Wayne Bennett stemming from their time in Brisbane together – and potentially out wide.
They are yet to re-sign flyer Tyrone Munro and have made it clear that they are in no rush to offer Alex Johnston a new deal as he overcomes an achilles injury.
Allowing Ilias to depart gives them the chance to enter the player market with enough money to make their move if something opens up.
Ilias, meanwhile, will pick up the pieces at the Dragons. They needed to make a splash and Ilias may not have the resume of Hunt or move the dial like St George Illawarra fans want, but he has the talent and character to make an instant impact.
“Lachy has done a great job over his time with our club,” Rabbitohs head of recruitment and retention Mark Ellison said.
“He’s popular among the playing group and won a Jersey Flegg Cup premiership here as well,”
Lachy has worked hard to put himself in a position to return from that terrible broken leg he suffered last year and he has an opportunity to extend his NRL future at another club.
“We felt it was the right thing to do to allow him to take up that opportunity. We wish him, his partner Regan and his family the very best of luck in the future and he will always be welcome back here at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.”
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