LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Wayne Bennett, the new coach for the Rabbitohs, has put his foot down on a proposed player swap involving Jackson Hastings and Lachlan Ilias from the Knights and Rabbitohs.
Once hailed as the next big thing for the Rabbitohs, Lachlan Ilias has had a rough year, finding himself relegated to the NSW Cup by former coach Jason Demetriou and suffering a broken leg while playing in the reserves.
Despite this setback, he was given permission to explore options with other teams after the signing of Lewis Dodd from St Helens RLFC for next season.
There is also talk of Josh Schuster being another potential halfback option for 2025.
Although there were rumors over the weekend about Hastings potentially moving to the Rabbitohs with Ilias heading the other way, Wayne Bennett has put a stop to that.
Reports suggest that the discussions between the two clubs have fallen through, with Bennett reassuring Ilias that he still has a place in the team.
In true coach fashion, Bennett has made his decision clear, emphasizing to the Greek international that he is still valued at the club.