New Titans recruit Lachlan Ilias hasn’t shied away from his comments criticising the Dragons, his former team.
Ilias told the Unscripted podcast he didn’t think he was given a fair shot by coach Shane Flanagan and the club.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
In his only season at the club, Ilias was dropped to reserve grade early in the season after playing a handful of NRL games, but didn’t return to the top grade.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Ilias angled for an early release from his two year deal. That was granted and the halfback linked up with the Titans.
In an interview with media on Thursday, he stood by his Unscripted podcast comments.
I said what I said, that’s just the truth,” Ilias said.
“I stand by what I said but I’m really looking forward to this year as a Titan. There was obviously ups and downs this year, but it’s all for the better.”
New Titans coach Josh Hannay has made several big changes since arriving on the Gold Coast, with the signing of Ilias one of his moves.
With the Titans being one of the more unsettled teams in the comp over the past few years when it comes to their halves, Ilias has a golden chance to revive his NRL career.
“I’ve got complete faith (that I can play more NRL),” Ilias said.
“Josh has been really refreshing. I had a chat with him in the off-season and he just wanted me to be really calm and feel no pressure coming into the club.
“The way he communicates and speaks to all the boys and the way he talks in video (sessions), it’s just been unreal.”
Competition delay rocks R360 hopefuls | 00:39
BRONCOS INK DEAL WITH NZ TEEN SENSATION
The Broncos have reportedly inked an extension with an teen halfback prospect who is the brother of an NRL star and has been likened to Benji Marshall.
Calvin Harris-Tavita is considered one of the best playmaker prospects to come out of New Zealand in 20 years and has already drawn comparisions to Benji Marshall and Shaun Johnson.
The younger sibling of Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita, the 17-year-old Calvin was noticed by the Broncos’ scouting department during this year’s Auckland Schools Championships.
Playing for the esteemed King’s College, Harris-Tavita starred in those championships as King’s took out the title.
The Broncos quickly moved, offering the teenager a multi-year deal.
New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters told Code Sports, “it’s a great signing for the Broncos, absolutely.”
Broncos head of recruitment Simon Scanlan says the club will continue to go to the New Zealand well given their success with that strategy.
“For the past decade, we’ve been working at a grassroots level in New Zealand, focusing primarily on coach education and working with regional zones across the country,” Scanlan told Code Sports.
“Over that time, and particularly the past four years, we’ve seen a surge in popularity of rugby league through schools and junior clubs.
“Deine Mariner, Xavier Willison and Jordan Riki were each signed at 15 years of age.”
Harris-Tavita is set to relocate to Brisbane at the end of this year to join the club’s system.
NRL DELAYS NYC RETURN
The NRL has delayed plans to revive the National Youth Competition with plans for an under 21’s league to mirror the NRL put on hold until at least 2028 due to cost and losgistical issues.
The Daily Telegraph reported the NRL have scrapped plans to replace the former NTC under 20’s competition with an under 21 version at least until the next broadcast deal in 2028.
Instead the game will continue with two separate state-based competitions, the Jersey Flegg Cup (NSW) and NRLQ (Queensland).
The NYC ran from 2008 to 2017 and produced current NRL stars, including Kalyn Ponga, Jarome Luai, Jason Taumalolo, Patrick Carrigan, and Tom Trbojevic.
However, plans to revive the concept have been delayed due to budget concerns and structural hurdles.
The NRL’s decision aligns with expectations that any national youth revival will not occur until the next broadcast cycle in 2028, when the game’s financial landscape and collective bargaining structure stabilise.
“It won’t happen for at least two years,” one NRL club official told Code Sports.
“There’s talk reserve grade and a youth league is dead, but from 2028 onwards it might happen with the new TV rights deal.”
While the ARL Commission are committed to improving the development and pathways system, officials are prioritising cost efficiency and player pathways integration across existing structures.
In Queensland, the NRLQ under-21s will expand to as many as 15 rounds next season, acting as a key feeder league for the Broncos, Titans, Cowboys, and the Dolphins.
Expansion side the Perth Bears have expressed an interest in fielding a team in the NRLQ to strengthen their development base.
Bears recruitment boss Dane Campbell said the club hopes to join once they become financially viable.
“Our ambition would be to have a team in the NRLQ,” Campbell said.
“We’d love to be involved, but there’s some reality around what it could cost to service as well.”
BRONCOS LEGEND WEIGHS IN ON HAAS’ CONTRACT SAGA
A Broncos legend has weighed in on star prop Payne Haas’ reported interest in breakaway union comp R360.
Haas was an integral part of Brisbane breaking a 19-year premiership drought this season.
However, multiple premiership winning outside back Steve Renouf can understand the allure of R360 and believes Haas has earned the right to make whatever decision he wants.
“I would say, ‘Mate, you’ve got to do what’s right for yourself and your family’,” Renouf told WWOS.
“But, personally, I wouldn’t want to see him go. He is a Bronco, he’s been there for a while, he’s a legendary Bronco, and he always will be.
“It’d be a shame to see him go. I don’t want him to go because there’s no one like him.
“Payne Haas is very unique. You’ve just got to see what he’s done in the past. It’s been amazing.”
Haas is under contract with Brisbane until the end of next season but the Broncos are keen to lock him up on a deal which will be the richest ever for a prop.
Along with Zac Lomax, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jye Gray, Haas has been heavily linked to R360.
Lomax and Papenhuyzen have left the NRL and are rumoured to be joining R360 while Gray has resisted a big money offer from the rebel league to sign an extension with Souths.
Turbo after premiership as Manly skipper | 01:07
MORE NRL NEWS
NOV 1 LIVE: Star linked to four clubs amid DCE rumour; Storm’s Katoa replacement
CRAWLS: Spare us the ‘weather report’, Blues fans still in dark after horror defeat
‘S**T HAPPENS’: Ex-star ‘bitter’ at Dragons after failing to get ‘fair crack’ at recall
TURBO REVEALS REACTION TO SHOCK MANLY CALL
Tom Trbojevic says things between he and his brother Jake aren’t “awkward” following Manly’s announcement that the fullback will captain the Sea Eagles in 2026.
When Daly Cherry-Evans departed the club for the Roosters, most would’ve thought it’d be Jake Trbojevic who would don the ‘C’ going forward, given he was the club’s vice-captain under Cherry-Evans.
However, the club elected to bestow the honour to the Tom, who said that while his brother would ultimately be “disappointed”, he knows he’s proud of him.
“I wouldn’t say it’s awkward by any means,” Trbojevic said.
“I think with Jake, that would have been something that he probably would have liked to do if you talked to him and he’s likely going to be disappointed about that.
“He’s really happy for me and happy that I get to do it, and then he gets to be alongside me while I do it.”
Trbojevic said that Cherry-Evans reached out to him after the captaining announcement was made by Manly.
He also revealed what his on-field captaining style will look like, with the laconic and easygoing Trbojevic stating he will give his teammates if need be.
“He (Cherry-Evans) just said it’s obviously a great honour and there’s nothing better than running out to a packed hill,” Trbojevic said.
“I’ll have a laugh and I’m quite easygoing, but some things you pick up as a fullback you kind of need to be quite direct with some of the things you say, so I’ve done a lot of that.”
Manly locked down Trbojevic for one more season late last month, meaning the fullback is under contract until the end of 2027.
Discussion about this post