Lachlan Ilias

Lachlan Ilias

Personal information
Full name	Lachlan Ilias
Born	(2000-05-09) 9 May 2000 (age 24) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Playing information
Position	Halfback, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2021–24 South Sydney 53 10 2 1 45 2025– St George Illawarra 0 0 0 0 0 Total 53 10 2 1 45 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2022 Greece 3 1 2 0 8
Source: [1] As of 14 March 2024

Lachlan Ilias (born 9 May 2000) is a Greece international rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

Ilias is Australian as he was born in Australia but is of Greek, Italian and German heritage. ^[2] He grew up in the Sydney suburb of Five Dock. He played schoolboy rugby union for Trinity Grammar and was in the 2018 Australian Schoolboys Rugby team ^[3] He also played junior rugby league with Leichhardt Wanderers in the Balmain junior district.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career

Early career

Ilias signed a development contract with Wests Tigers in 2017. ^[4] In 2018, after a meeting with Anthony Seibold, Ilias transferred to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2019 season. ^[5]

2021

Ilias made his debut for South Sydney at halfback in his side's 20−16 victory over the St. George Illawarra Dragons at Sunshine Coast Stadium in round 25 of the 2021 NRL season, Ilias also scored a try on debut. ^[6]

2022

In round 15 of the 2022 NRL season, Ilias was substituted shortly after half-time during South Sydney's 32-12 loss against St. George Illawarra. South Sydney were down 32-0 at half-time and Ilias had knocked the ball on from the opening kick off. ^[7] Ilias played 26 games for South Sydney in the 2022 NRL season including all three of the clubs finals matches as they reached the preliminary final for a fifth straight season. Souths would lose in the preliminary final to eventual premiers Penrith 32-12. ^[8] Ilias made his international debut for Greece against France on 17 October 2022 at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. ^[9]

2023

In round 4 of the 2023 NRL season, Ilias kicked a field goal during golden point extra-time to win the game for South Sydney over Manly 13-12. ^[10] Ilias played a total of 24 games for Souths in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 9th on the table and missed the finals. ^[11]

2024

After South Sydney lost their opening two games of the 2024 NRL season, Ilias was demoted to reserve grade and replaced with Dean Hawkins. ^[12] In round 5 of the NSW Cup season, Ilias suffered a fractured tibia during South Sydney's match against the New Zealand Warriors. It was announced that Ilias would miss a minimum of three months. ^[13] On 29 April, it was announced by the South Sydney club that Ilias was free to negotiate with other teams at the end of the 2024 season. ^[14] On 25 November 2024, Ilias signed a two-year deal with the St. George Illawarra Dragons. ^[15]

References

1. Rugby League Project
2. Stamocostas, Con (27 May 2019). "The Greek Australians aiming to qualify Greece to their first ever Rugby League World Cup". Neos Kosmos.
3. "Rabbitohs sign freakish teen rugby union talents Joseph Suaalii and Lachlan Ilias".
4. "NRL 2021: Lachlan Ilias will make his debut for Souths after being snatched from the Tigers". Archived from the original on 21 October 2021.
5. St John, Mark (3 June 2021). "Reynolds' heir apparent one of six Rabbitohs re-signings: Transfer Centre". Fox Sports.
6. "NRL Round 25 team lists". NRL.com. 31 August 2021.
7. "'Saw the confidence drop away': Matty Johns labels Ilias' hooking 'unfair' after Dragons flogging". www.foxsports.com.au.
8. "Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-12 to qualify for third straight NRL grand final". www.abc.net.au.
9. "Rugby League World Cup: France 34-12 Greece - Les Bleus beat debutants". www.bbc.co.uk.
10. "'Give me the ball': Souths rookie's clutch golden-point play as Manly robbed of certain try - 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
11. "'Absolute madness': Potential Latrell switch slammed as a 'band aid' for broken Bunnies". www.foxsports.com.au.
12. "'He's a scapegoat': NRL world fumes over brutal Rabbitohs axing". www.news.com.au.
13. "Warrior facing HUGE ban from NRL judiciary over gruesome hit which fractured Souths star's leg". www.foxsports.com.au.
14. "'Didn't see it coming': Lachlan Ilias left blindsided as young halfback free to leave Rabbitohs". wwos.nine.com.au.
15. Writer, Staff (25 November 2024). "Ilias signs on for two seasons". St George Illawarra Dragons. Retrieved 25 November 2024.

External links

• Rabbitohs profile
• Greece profile