St George Illawarra Dragons halves analysis: Why Shane Flanagan can’t ignore Lachlan Ilias any longer

Something needs to change at the Dragons and the most obvious fix is another halves tinkering. It leaves Shane Flanagan with some big calls after exiled halfback Lachlan Ilias answered the coach’s challenge.

When St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan wielded the axe about six weeks ago and tinkered with his halves, his message was loud and clear.

Lachlan Ilias, he said, was a first grade halfback but he needed to go back to NSW Cup and find some form and confidence. He’ll be back, Flanagan insisted.

Ilias just needed to give Flanagan a reason to welcome him back into the fold. Well, six weeks later and he can do no more. The Dragons’ NSW Cup side hasn’t lost a game since Ilias joined them, winning six games with him in the No.7 jersey.

Over that time, he has scored four tries, laid on another five and had seven line break assists. The stats are compelling. His halves partner Jonah Glover has been just as potent.

Glover, who is yet to get a taste of first grade, is third in the NSW Cup in try assists with 15, the same number of line break assists he has produced through 13 games.

Again, pretty compelling stats. No wonder rival clubs are circling the young playmaker, who is off contract at the end of the season and seemingly not in the Dragons’ plans.

St George Illawarra's Lachlan Ilias has been in great form in NSW Cup. Picture: NRL Photos

But back to Ilias, who was given a resounding message by Flanagan at the time of his axing and has responded in kind. He has commandeered an unbeaten run in reserve grade while the NRL side has laboured.

The Dragons won three of their seven games before Ilias’ demotion to NSW Cup. They have won just two of their past six since then. The win-loss column suggests they haven’t got any better.

If results are anything to go by, they have gone backwards. The change of halves hasn’t produced a change of fortunes or results.

Jonah Glover is emerging as a star of the future in the NSW Cup as well. Picture: NRL Photos

It should be noted this isn’t a shot at Kyle Flanagan either. Shane missed the mark when he said his son wasn’t under pressure – when you lose like the Dragons have in the past fortnight, everyone needs to feel the pinch, particularly the blokes in the halves.

He was right, though, when he said Kyle had been one of the club’s better players this season. It has been a low bar in recent weeks but Kyle Flanagan has held his gloves up.

Kyle Flanagan has tried his best, but the results aren’t coming. Picture: NRL Photos

If there was a deficiency in his game last weekend, it was exposed in the Dragons’ kicking game against Cronulla. It was an abomination, meaning they spent the vast majority of the second half losing the battle for territory.

Their best clearing kick on the night was arguably by Luciano Leilua, a back rower. They spent the entire second half on the back foot coming off their own line.

Their forward pack was overrun and their halves didn’t really stand a chance. Regardless, the Dragons have been playing poorly and when that happens, it’s about rewarding players who have been in good touch in lower grades.

Lyhkan King-Togia could be the player to drop out if Ilias returns to first grade. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

You can’t send blokes back to NSW Cup, tell them to show what they can do, and then ignore them when they aim up. Ilias and Glover deserve their chance.

If it means moving Kyle Flanagan back to five-eighth, so be it. If it dictates a reshuffle that results in young No.6 Lyhkan King-Togia spending time in NSW Cup working on his craft, that’s life.

Something needs to change and the most obvious quick fix is to tinker once again with his halves. Perhaps Ilias is the answer. There’s only one way to find out.

Which takes us back to Shane Flanagan’s own words when he sent Ilias packing to NSW Cup more than a month ago.

“He is a first-grade halfback,” Flanagan said at the time.

“He needs to go find some form and confidence. He has had a lot of time out. He didn’t have a great pre-season because he was still recovering.

‘He’ll be back.”

Maybe now is the time.