3 months ago
15
Free of the suffocation of the Sydney rugby league bubble, Lachlan Ilias has vowed to emerge from the doubt that has shadowed his career to become the long-term halfback the Gold Coast craves.
Speaking to the media for the first time since becoming a Titan, Ilias cut a more relaxed and resolved figure than the man who polarised pundits south of the border.
The 25-year-old went from being lauded as the Rabbitohs’ heir apparent to Adam Reynolds, to the NRL scrapheap, with calls for his axing coming well before that demotion.
New recruit Lachlan Ilias in action during a Gold Coast Titans training session.Credit: AAP
He then suffered a severely broken leg and ended up being released to the Dragons, where he managed just seven games as St George-Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan persisted with son Kyle.
Talk surrounding Ilias quickly went from his future in the NRL to queries as to why he was not being given more opportunities on the back of his stellar NSW Cup form.
Loading
The Dragons finished second in that competition, losing to the Warriors in the grand final, with Ilias leading line engagements (224), while collecting 16 try assists and 16 linebreak assists.
But he would not be drawn on his ill-fated stint with the Dragons, adamant that chapter was behind him.
“I debuted at Souths, and there’s a lot of noise at Souths, a lot of expectations there. I was thrown into the deep end in terms of trying to block out the distractions from the start, so I’d like to think I’m pretty good at it,” he said.
“I think I’ve taken a lot of lessons out of it, to be honest. At Souths, obviously I was injured, which was unlucky, and the Dragons just didn’t go the way we wanted.
“But I think I grew as a player stepping down to reserve grade. I took a leadership role for that team, and I had to, as a senior player.
“Everyone was really lively at training, and we were winning games as well. But enough about the Dragons, I’m here at the Titans now, and I’m proud to be a Titan – it’s really refreshing; it’s a whole new environment.”
When Titans coach Josh Hannay launched his preseason, he stressed that Ilias had not lost the ability that initially had South Sydney plotting his future in the No.7 jumper.
He was a man down on his confidence who needed an opportunity, the new coach said.
Loading
But Ilias said he was undaunted by the mountain he must climb to consistently claim an NRL role, and wants to be the man who ends the Titans’ halfback revolving door.
“I can unlock the other boys. You’ve got a strong forward pack and some speed on the edges, so if I can just do my bit in the middle and control the middles, it will allow those boys with speed on the edges to run and have fun,” Ilias said.
“[But] I’d be open to anything the team needs. Obviously, I want to be the seven, but if the 14 [utility] is my role, then it is what it is.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
Loading
