Rabbitohs detail opens the door for Lachlan Ilias switch amid Damien Cook call at Dragons
Cook has already urged the Dragons to make a move for his former teammate.
Dragons recruit Damien Cook could get his wish to play alongside former teammate Lachlan Ilias next season after Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly revealed the club won't stand in the halfback's way if a deal can be struck with a rival NRL club. Ilias still has another year left on his current deal but has been given permission to explore his options elsewhere after finding himself down the halfback pecking order at Souths.
Wayne Bennett's Bunnies have signed two halfbacks for next season in the form of English import Lewis Dodd and former Manly young gun, Jamie Humphreys. And it's understood Bennett favours a halves pairing of Dodd and Cody Walker for 2025, relegating Ilias to a likely bench role under the master coach if he decides to stay at the club next season.
Ilias was regarded as the long-term halfback for South Sydney but endured a rough patch at the start of this year before being dropped to reserve grade by former Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou. The 24-year-old then suffered a horrific leg injury while playing in reserve grade that ended any hopes of the halfback fighting his way back into the Bunnies side.
Cook, who has joined Shane Flanagan's Dragons for the 2025 season, has already urged his new club to replace former captain Ben Hunt with Ilias, after the describing the backlash his former teammate faced during South Sydney's woeful run of form this year as "unfair". And South Sydney CEO Blake Solly revealed the club would be willing to grant the 24-year-old an early release if another club comes knocking.
"Lachlan is with us in 2025, his management asked for permission to negotiate with other clubs for the 2025 season, which we provided that permission way back in April-May," the Souths CEO told SEN 1170. "If Lachlan can find somewhere that gives him a long-term deal to play in the halves - which is his favourite position - then I don't think we'd stand in his way."
Solly was quick to point out that Ilias is a valued member of the Rabbitohs squad and even left the door open for him extending beyond next season. But the Souths boss admits that it will largely depend on how he adapts to a new role under Bennett in 2025. "Lachie has been a great contributor to the club. We love having him here and he's more than welcome to stay here for the 2025 season, I suppose prove his versatility to Wayne (Bennett) and then we can have a chat about what 2026 looks like after that," he added.
Damien Cook wants to play alongside Lachlan Ilias at Dragons
South Sydney's stance comes after Cook threw his support behind the young playmaker and said he'd love to play alongside him at the Dragons, following the departure of veteran No.7 Hunt. "I think Lachie is a great halfback, he's a great defender, he's still got plenty to learn, and he hasn't had the chance to show what he's capable of," Cook told The Sydney Morning Herald. "I know he loves Souths, but I'll be letting him know what I think. He's a halfback, not a dummy-half... He will be a part of their best 17 (at Souths), but they've also got other halves ahead of him. I know Lachie would love it at the Dragons."
Dragons coach Flanagan has already made it clear that he'd like to wait and see which club Hunt ends up at before making a move for another halfback. His reasoning is that Hunt's arrival could push another player out at that respective club and potentially open the door for the Dragons to pounce.
RELATED:
NRL greats call out concerning Jarome Luai detail in Wests Tigers drama
Maguire reveals truth about claims Reece Walsh could be forced to move
Adam Reynolds cops crushing blow in shock call on Broncos captaincy
Flanagan's side have been linked with a number of other halfbacks but their reported pursuit of Super League star Brodie Croft has hit a major roadblock. Croft has a clause in his Leeds Rhinos contract that would allow him to leave for an NRL club but the English club insist the date to exercise that clause has passed and he will remain their player next season.
Another halfback being linked with a move to the Dragons is versatile Sharks playmaker Daniel Atkinson, who enjoyed a breakout season for Cronulla in 2024. Atkinson excelled in the halves alongside Braydon Trindall in the absence of Nicho Hynes but would appear to be stuck behind the pair and resigned to accepting an interchange role in 2025.
