Imagine pouring your heart and soul into something, only to feel like you never truly got a shot to prove yourself. That's the raw emotion former Dragons halfback Lachlan Ilias is grappling with, and he's not holding back. He feels 'bitter' about what he perceives as a lack of a 'fair crack' after being sidelined by coach Shane Flanagan early in the 2025 season. But here's where it gets controversial... was it truly unfair, or just a tough call in a high-stakes environment?
The 25-year-old Ilias, brimming with potential, saw his rookie season with the Dragons cut short after just seven games. Flanagan opted to field his son, Kyle, and Lyhkan King-Togia in the halves instead. This decision came under intense scrutiny as the Dragons struggled, ultimately finishing a disappointing 15th. Meanwhile, Ilias was tearing it up in the NSW Cup, leading their side to the Grand Final. And this is the part most people miss... the difference between performing well in the NSW Cup and thriving under the intense pressure of the NRL is massive. The skills required, although similar, are executed under totally different levels of physical and mental fatigue. Despite his stellar performance in the lower grade, a first-grade recall never materialized. Ilias eventually signed a two-year deal with the Titans in the off-season, leaving behind a cloud of what-ifs.
Speaking candidly on the Unscripted podcast with Josh Mansour, Ilias expressed his confusion and frustration. He felt unjustly dropped due to concerns about his defense and believed his efforts in reserve grade warranted another opportunity, especially given the Dragons' struggles in the NRL. “Our first win was against Melbourne in Kogarah in the wet - we were building nicely, but then shit happens,” Ilias stated, reflecting on the promising start that quickly unraveled. “I don’t think I was given a fair opportunity to get back into the team after I was dropped.” He claims he was told the reason for being dropped was his defensive reads, and the communication between himself and Jaydn Su’A.
Ilias further elaborated on his efforts to improve, stating, “I told the defensive coach and the wrestling guy after I got dropped that I would do more extras and put my best foot forward to try and get picked back into the team.” He emphasized his dedication, saying, “I was doing all that, I went back to Cup and I barely missed a tackle for five or six weeks. I just don’t think I got a fair crack.”
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When pressed about the communication he received from the first-grade squad regarding his progress, Ilias revealed a lack of substantial feedback. “Not really,” he said. “The only dialogue that I got after I got dropped was after we won 10 or 11 games in a row for Cup and then we played terrible against Newtown … it just wasn’t our day and that was the only time I got feedback about my game, saying that I played poorly.
