Lachlan Ilias

Lachlan Ilias
Personal information
Full nameLachlan Ilias
Born (2000-05-09) 9 May 2000 (age 24)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– South Sydney 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 played as a halfback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Background

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Ilias was born in Australia and has 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

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Early career

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  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.
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