{"id":389241,"date":"2024-04-30T02:24:49","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T02:24:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=389241"},"modified":"2024-04-30T03:03:43","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T03:03:43","slug":"shock-ilias-snub-to-kickstart-five-club-feeding-frenzy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=389241","title":{"rendered":"Shock Ilias snub to kickstart five-club feeding frenzy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The halfback market is typically barren at the best of times, but suddenly an NRL<\/a>-quality playmaker is available and it could spark a bidding frenzy.<\/p>\n

South Sydney<\/a> has told Lachlan Ilias he is free to leave at season's end<\/a>, having been axed from first grade by embattled coach Jason Demetriou<\/a> in the early rounds.<\/p>\n

While that in itself is not a glowing advertisement of his ability, it shouldn't be forgotten Ilias was earmarked as the long-term Rabbitohs No.7 and was the reason they cut ties with premiership pivot Adam Reynolds two years ago.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Gould goes berserk over 'stupid' NRL rule changes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ufeffREAD MORE:<\/strong> Awkward vision exposes lingering Swans tension<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Tyson gives up sex, marijuana ahead of Paul fight\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ufeffThe 23-year-old has talent and there is more than one club in need of a quality long-term playmaker.<\/p>\n

Ilias' manager Braith Anasta agreed on Monday night "there's a lot of teams who could do with a half at the moment" and claimed there is already "low-level interest" in his client's services.<\/p>\n

\"Apartment<\/p>\n

Ilias is out injured for the remainder of 2024 after breaking his leg playing NSW Cup earlier this month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But these are the clubs who could be circling for his signature from 2025 onwards.\ufeff<\/p>\n

KNIGHTS<\/h2>\n

Newcastle has three or four playmakers already on the books and none of them have successfully cemented a spot in the NRL side this year.<\/p>\n

Coach Adam O'Brien has rotated through Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger, and Tyson Gamble this season, while Phoenix Crossland is used as a fill-in for various spine positions when needed.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Gamble isn't a No.7 and Hastings \ufeffhas struggled to take charge of the side this year, while Cogger is a genuine halfback but is battling to get a look-in with coach O'Brien.<\/p>\n

The Knights are crying out for a senior halfback who can take control of the team and allow superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga to do what he does best – inject himself into the attack when he spots an opportunity.<\/p>\n

They have looked awfully clunky this season and the coach's constant halves rotation proves O'Brien isn't getting what he wants out of the key playmakers.\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"Jackson<\/p>\n

COWBOYS<\/h2>\n

Veteran halfback Chad Townsend wants to stick around for 2025 but North Queensland is yet to agree to an extension.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"I've left a lot of the talk to my manager, it's my intention that I definitely like to play on next year," Townsend told Triple M radio on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

"I've had an awesome time here at the Cowboys and we'll see what happens with regards to that."<\/p>\n

The arrival of Ilias on the market may entice the Cowboys to cut Townsend and bring the 23-year-old north to partner fellow rising talent Tom Dearden in the halves.<\/p>\n

It would also allow Ilias to work with Townsend's 2016 premiership halves partner James Maloney, who is an assistant coach at the Cowboys.<\/p>\n

TITANS\ufeff<\/h3>\n

Gold Coast is struggling to compete in the NRL this year – at least before a shock win over the Warriors on Anzac Day – and the poor old Titans would no doubt jump at any opportunity to bring a quality playmaker to the glitter strip.<\/p>\n

Tanah Boyd was earmarked as the club's long-term No.7 but \ufeffhas failed to stamp his authority on the jumper, and there's no clear back-up for new coach Des Hasler.<\/p>\n

A roster revamp looms and Ilias could be the key signing to kick it all off.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BULLDOGS<\/h3>\n

Ilias' agent Anasta was reportedly spotted meeting with Canterbury football boss Phil Gould at the weekend.<\/p>\n

\ufeffGould has overseen a roster revamp at Belmore but the No.7 jumper is one area he is yet to have a big win for.<\/p>\n

Toby Sexton arrived last year but has played just one game at NRL level in 2024, while Drew Hutchison has filled the role but has had his playmaking credentials questioned.<\/p>\n

Hutchison played largely as a centre fill-in or a bench utility at the Roosters previously.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs have the makings of a good team and the addition of a genuine halfback in Ilias could prove the missing piece to Gould's puzzle.\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"Joey<\/p>\n

ROOSTERS<\/h2>\n

\ufeffThe Bondi club suddenly has bucket loads of cash to splash<\/a> next year.<\/p>\n

Veteran playmaker Luke Keary will retire at season's end<\/a>, as will Kiwi prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Big-money outside backs Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii are heading to rugby, while Angus Crichton and Daniel Tupou remain unsigned for 2025.<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe exit of Keary in particular makes the Ilias timing interesting.<\/p>\n

Sam Walker is a superstar in the making who can wear either the six or seven jumper, and he's often swapped the roles with Keary over the past couple of seasons.<\/p>\n

Ilias is a halfback who could allow Walker to \ufefftake a back seat of sorts and play five-eighth in the mould of Cameron Munster.<\/p>\n

Ilias has a connection to Roosters supremo Nick Politis through the Greek national team, while Anasta is a former Roosters player with deep roots in Bondi.\ufeff\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The halfback market is typically barren at the best of times, but suddenly an NRL-quality playmaker is available and it could spark a bidding frenzy. […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":389243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389241"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=389241"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":389246,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389241\/revisions\/389246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/389243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=389241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=389241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=389241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}