St George Illawarra have signed former South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias on a two-year contract.
The Rabbitohs agreed to release the playmaker from the final year of his deal after he lost his place in the side last season.
Wayne Bennett’s return to Redfern coincided with the club signing Lewis Dodd from St Helens, with the England international set to make the No.7 jersey his own.
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Dragons sign Lachlan Ilias as their Ben Hunt replacement
The Dragons have been in the market for a halfback after releasing Ben Hunt from the final year of his deal.
The Queensland and Australia representative agitated for a move after becoming disillusioned at the club.
Shane Flanagan was then linked to a plethora of halfbacks, including Ilias, Brodie Croft and Daniel Atkinson. Yet it is the 24-year-old Greece international who has eventually landed in Wollongong.
Ilias was informed he was free to negotiate with rivals in April after he fell down the pecking order at the Bunnies under former coach Jason Demetriou.
However, he then suffered a horrific leg injury while playing in the NSW Cup which brought a premature end to his campaign.
The last of his 53 appearances for the Rabbitohs came in Round 2 after he had previously spent the two years prior being heralded as Adam Reynolds' long-term replacement.
"Lachy has worked hard to put himself in a position to return from that terrible broken leg he suffered last year and he has an opportunity to extend his NRL future at another club," South Sydney stated after releasing him.
"We felt it was the right thing to do to allow him to take up that opportunity."
Ilias' arrival continues a busy off-season for the Red V, who have also signed Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook.
The former Bunnies hooker previously declared that Ilias would be a perfect fit alongside him at the Dragons, with this opinion backed up by the club’s move for him.
"It’s fantastic to have Lachlan join us at the Dragons," Shane Flanagan said.
"He is coming into the best years of his career. His skill set complements our current squad and he joins the exciting group of players we have recruited ahead of the 2025 season.
"We can’t wait for him to rip in with us."