St George Illawarra looks set to land a replacement for Ben Hunt heading into next year, with Rabbitohs halfback Lachlan Ilias on the verge of signing with the club.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 24-year-old completed a second medical with the Dragons on Friday and is close to agreeing to terms.
Ilias is on the outer at Souths due to the arrival of Lewis Dodd for the upcoming season and now looms as the No.7 for the Red V alongside five-eighth Kyle Flanagan.
Lachlan Ilias has played his last game for South Sydney. Getty
The playmaker suffered a horrific leg injury in NSW Cup last year but appears as though he will be ready to play when the 2025 season rolls around.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has been eyeing Daniel Atkinson from local rivals Cronulla, but the utility has a year to run on his deal and won’t be released early.
The likely departure of Ilias from the Bunnies will leave incoming coach Wayne Bennett with a roster spot to fill and the Herald reports that Matt Lodge could be in the mix.
Matt Lodge during the NRL finals against the Bulldogs. Getty
The front-rower wasn’t retained by the Sea Eagles at the end of this year and is looking for a contract at another club in the pre-season.
Bennett and Lodge previously worked together at the Broncos in 2018.
Lodge would add some much-needed starch to the middle of the field for Souths, who have lost experienced prop Tom Burgess in the off-season.
