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).
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Lachlan Ilias | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 May 2000 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 14 March 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editIlias 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
editEarly career
editIlias 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
editIlias 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
editIn 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
editIn 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
editAfter 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
edit- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ Stamocostas, Con (27 May 2019). "The Greek Australians aiming to qualify Greece to their first ever Rugby League World Cup". Neos Kosmos.
- ^ "Rabbitohs sign freakish teen rugby union talents Joseph Suaalii and Lachlan Ilias".
- ^ "NRL 2021: Lachlan Ilias will make his debut for Souths after being snatched from the Tigers". Archived from the original on 21 October 2021.
- ^ St John, Mark (3 June 2021). "Reynolds' heir apparent one of six Rabbitohs re-signings: Transfer Centre". Fox Sports.
- ^ "NRL Round 25 team lists". NRL.com. 31 August 2021.
- ^ "'Saw the confidence drop away': Matty Johns labels Ilias' hooking 'unfair' after Dragons flogging". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-12 to qualify for third straight NRL grand final". www.abc.net.au.
- ^ "Rugby League World Cup: France 34-12 Greece - Les Bleus beat debutants". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "'Give me the ball': Souths rookie's clutch golden-point play as Manly robbed of certain try - 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "'Absolute madness': Potential Latrell switch slammed as a 'band aid' for broken Bunnies". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "'He's a scapegoat': NRL world fumes over brutal Rabbitohs axing". www.news.com.au.
- ^ "Warrior facing HUGE ban from NRL judiciary over gruesome hit which fractured Souths star's leg". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "'Didn't see it coming': Lachlan Ilias left blindsided as young halfback free to leave Rabbitohs". wwos.nine.com.au.
- ^ Staff Writer (25 November 2024). "Ilias signs on for two seasons". St George Illawarra Dragons. Retrieved 25 November 2024.