Bulldogs open door for Lachlan Ilias move after South Sydney sign halfback Lewis Dodd

A rival NRL club has opened the door for a move for South Sydney’s Lachlan Ilias following news the injured halfback has been giving permission to negotiate a new contract elsewhere.

Cameron Ciraldo won’t rule out making a play for South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias but insisted Canterbury were committed to developing the club’s next crop of playmakers in-house.

Ilias was granted permission to explore options at other clubs after this masthead revealed St Helens halfback Lewis Dodd is set to join the Rabbitohs on a long-term deal next season.

Ilias, who is contracted until the end of 2025, is now officially on the market and is expected to attract interest from a number of clubs including the Bulldogs.

Ciraldo did not shut down the suggestion linking Ilias to Canterbury when asked about the Rabbitohs no.7.

“I think we get linked to every player that comes on the market. That is nothing unusual. Lachlan is a really good player and we do have space in our roster moving forward in the next few years,” Ciraldo said.

“I didn’t know too much about it until I got asked the question … I wouldn’t rule out anything but we are focused on the team we have here and developing through the system, we are really excited about that.”

Cameron Ciraldo has said there is space in the Bulldogs roster for recruitment. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Rising halfback Mitchell Woods helped guide the Bulldogs to the SG Ball grand final on the weekend, when the teenager was also crowned the player of the series.

The club’s halves stocks also include former Wests Tigers prospect Alex Conti and NSW Cup halfback Joseph O’Neill.

While Ciraldo said the club is in a position to pursue Ilias, it was making players like Woods and O’Neill the priority.

“We also have a big focus on developing players we have within here. Our Jersey Flegg team is going well, our NSW Cup team is going well. Our SG Ball team was in the grand final on the weekend,” Ciraldo said.

“We are very happy with where we sit and the players we have coming through at the club. But if a quality player does come on the market, we’ll assess it at that time.”

The Gold Coast Titans, North Queensland and Penrith are some of the other NRL sides potentially in the market for a playmaker like Ilias, who is sidelined with a broken leg.

The Sydney Roosters also have a warchest to take to the open market, where the Bondi club could look to shore up halves stocks after Luke Keary announced his retirement on Monday.

Lachlan Ilias has been given permission to talk to rival clubs. Picture: NRL Imagery

SOUTHS ALLOW ILIAS TO NEGOTIATE

-Brent Read, Michael Carayannis

South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias has been granted permission to explore his options at rival clubs as he heads toward the exit door at the Rabbitohs.

This masthead understands that Ilias’ manager Braith Anasta formally applied for permission to negotiate with rival clubs on Monday morning in the wake of revelations that St Helens playmaker Lewis Dodd would join the Rabbitohs next year.

Souths have now given him permission to negotiate, meaning Ilias is officially on the open market. A handful of clubs are potentially in the market for playmakers including the Bulldogs, Gold Coast Titans, North Queensland and Penrith.

The Sydney Roosters are also set to enter the halves market after Luke Keary announced he would retire at the end of the season.

Ilias, recovering from a broken leg, will now appear on their radar as he looks for a new home in the NRL next season.

He has 12 months left on his contract with Souths and has always been reluctant to leave the Rabbitohs even though others in his circle believed it would be the best thing for his future.

RABBITOHS STARS BLANK ON NEW HALFBACK SIGNING

-Fatima Kdouh

Lewis who?

That was the reception from South Sydney players on the back of the news that star St Helens halfback Lewis Dodd has agreed to join the embattled club on a long-term deal from 2025.

It comes as the South Sydney board prepare to meet on Tuesday to discuss the future of coach Jason Demetriou.

Dodd, who is arguably the Super League’s hottest prospect, is being billed as the player that can help rejuvenate not only the Rabbitohs roster, but the side’s on-field fortunes.

But some of the Rabbitohs biggest stars, like forward Jai Arrow, knew little of Dodd’s exploits – which included a winning extra time field goal against Penrith in last year’s World Club Challenge.

“Nah, sorry to be honest I don’t really know anything about him,” Arrow said on Sunday.

“I just know he’s a young kid in the super League. He must be doing some good things if he’s caught the eye of the club … I don’t really know anything about … Lewis Dodd, is it, sorry?”

The sentiment was a similar one from Keaon Koloamatangi.

But the edge backrower welcomed the news of Dodd’s impending arrival.

Lewis Dodd will join the Rabbitohs next season. Picture: Jess Hornby/Getty Images

“I did see that, but I don’t know too much about him. Any signing to the club is a positive, it’s good that it shows people over there want to come to our club,” Koloamatangi said.

“When he comes we’ll welcome him with open arms.”

Dodd’s signature will undoubtedly place more uncertainty on the future of injured No. 7 Lachlan Ilias, who is out for the season with a serious leg injury.

Ilias was touted as the player to take South Sydney in the future but was dumped from the NRL side after just two games following the Rabbitohs poor start to the season.

Koloamatangi believes Ilias can salvage his career at the Rabbitohs even if Dodd does join the club, and is earmarked as Cody Walker’s halves partner.

“Yeah, 100 per cent (he can get back),” Koloamatangi said.

“I look at it as a positive. Even if they were to sign some in my positions, I’d just want to go out there and do my best and compete for the position. When you do that in pre-season, it brings the best out of you. Whoever gets the position earns it and is best for the team”

South Sydney’s heavy 54-20 loss to Melbourne last Thursday put Demetriou further under the blowtorch.

The task of saving Demetriou’s job doesn’t get any easier this week with the Rabbitohs taking on reigning premiers Penrith on Thursday night.

Arrow is still back Demetriou to lead a much needed revival to get the Bunnies off the bottom of the NRL ladder.

The Rabbitohs are firmly rooted at the bottom of the table. Picture: NRL Photos

“It does hurt to see what the team and the coach has gone through. The only thing we can do is back it up with performances. We are not doing that at the moment,” Arrow said.

“The NRL is a cut throat business but he’s our coach and we respect him, we love him. He’s not only my coach and I consider him a close friend.”

Rabbitohs outside back Jacob Gagai is also hoping to sort out his future at the club.

Gagai made his NRL debut, from outside of the top 30, in the season opener in Las Vegas after Campbell Graham and Tyrone Munro were ruled out with injury.

He was recalled against the Storm last week and with Taane Milne slapped with a two-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Cameron Munster, Gagai is now in the box seat to retain his place in the NRL side.

The Rabbitohs are yet to open contract talks with Gagai, who has proven worthy of NRL selection.

“Everyone is here to play first grade, that’s one of my goals. I have never been in a top 30 squad before so that’s something I want to push for,” Gagai said.

“I love this club, I’ve been at other clubs but this does feel like home. It really is a family club and I’m a big family man being Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander, I have a big family.”