LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Dumped Rabbitohs halfback Lachlan Ilias made a bold statement in reserve grade as his team was taken to the cleaners by the Roosters in the NRL.
The folks at news.com.au are buzzing about it.
After being axed from the NRL squad due to their lackluster start to the season, Ilias showed he's not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Known as Adam Reynolds' heir apparent, he put on a clinic in South Sydney's 28-12 NSW Cup victory over the Roosters, proving that he's still got what it takes to compete at the top level.
Despite a rocky start with a fumble in enemy territory, Ilias quickly recovered and dazzled the crowd with a pinpoint pass to set up Izaac Thompson for a sensational try.
He then showcased his defensive prowess with a match-saving tackle, forced a crucial line dropout, and teamed up with Jye Gray to send Richie Kennar over the line before coolly slotting a tricky conversion from the sideline.
With his stellar performance, Ilias has sent a clear message to coach Jason Demetriou that he's ready to fight tooth and nail for his spot in the starting lineup.
Looks like this young gun is not going down without a fight, mate.