Broncos star Adam Reynolds says Souths halfback Lachlan Ilias is being unfairly focused after the Rabbitohs’ stunning early end to the season.
The Rabbitohs loss to the Roosters final Friday meant they’d end outdoors the highest eight – fairly the autumn from grace contemplating the pre-season expectations and the actual fact they had been on the highest of the ladder on the finish of Round 11.
Ilias has copped his fair proportion of the blame, exasperated by feedback from former Souths halfbacks Craig Coleman and Craig Field over the weekend.
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However Ilias’ predecessor Reynolds believes it’s harsh to counsel the Bunnies half deserves to cop the warmth, as an alternative pointing to the workforce’s recreation plan.
“I feel for Lachie, and it’s never easy taking over from a player who was there for 10 years, won a grand final, and just been in a grand final,” Reynolds instructed the SMH.
“The pressure and expectation from the get-go was always going to be a lot greater compared to another halfback.
“I don’t know if they’ve got the right game plan he wants to play. The game plan they have now is the one implemented when I was there, which involves playing on the ball and creating space for your outside men.
“That was something I could do really well for Cody (Walker) and Latrell and other players. I see Lachie as a bit more of a runner, but he’s been thrown in and asked to play that role.
“I still speak to Lachie and check in to make sure he’s all right. I know the pressure he’s under as young fella trying to make his own career.
“He’s getting blamed for a lot he shouldn’t be getting blamed for. As long he’s got support around him, he’ll be right.”
Field posted on Facebook, “Don’t care what people at Souths think – but number 7 (Ilias) is not up to what is coach thinks,” with Rabbitohs membership nice Coleman liking the publish.
Field’s criticism led to resistance from Fox League’s Braith Anasta, who can be Ilias’ supervisor.
“Some people have short memories. He (Coleman) should be trying to inspire the kid and help him be better – not the opposite,” Anasta mentioned over the weekend.
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Coleman would fireplace again on Sunday, stating “I am entitled to make a comment as Braith is when he criticises the effort of Latrell Mitchell and so many other players. Criticism and praise goes with the territory.
“I hope he (Ilias) can turn constructive criticism into a positive and become a great Souths halfback because the team really needs one.”
Anasta and the remainder of the NRL 360 panel debated whether or not the blame levied at Illas was truthful on Monday.
“He Coleman said it was constructive criticism to Lachie and said I have my opinion on this show so he can have his. Well, he’s right. He can have his opinion all he likes, that’s fine. There’s no doubt about that,” Anasta mentioned.
“My opinion on this show is based on eight hours of prep every day and a lot of analysis and video and phone calls.
“I’ve had Cooper Cronk ring me and lend a hand for Lachie. I’ve had Joey Johns ring me and lend a hand for Lachie.
“You’ve got an ex-legend… he’s been attacking him for a long time now. It’s not constructive at all.
“He’s been ringing reporters about it, going on Facebook, he has singled out Lachie as the problem there and Lachie is not the problem.
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“The only reason he’s (Coleman) reached out and said we’ll catch up is because I responded. I see Coleman everyday in Coogee. Not once has he ever come up to me.”
Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield defended Ilias, echoing the feedback of Reynolds that there was all the time going to be loads of stress following a premiership profitable half.
“I don’t know what he’s earning but I suspect he’s on around $300,000 so he’s not top-range, elite… I think to single him out was very unfortunate and unwarranted and unfair,” Rothfield mentioned.
“When you follow Adam Reynolds in you’re on a flogging to nothing and you’re not on a pay packet that justifies being Adam Reynolds, who has done a wonderful job and we can debate all day whether Souths could have somehow found the cap space and kept him here.”
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“Lachie is a young bloke who is still learning his craft. There are a lot of other blokes in that football team on a lot more money who have a lot more leadership responsibility. To lump it on Lachie is really unfair and really harsh on him,” The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read added.
Anasta believes that many Rabbitohs greats are nonetheless “pissed off” that the membership let Reynolds stroll.
“I think that is the heart of the problem. These guys are pissed off that they let Reynolds go and haven’t let go of that,” he mentioned.
“The last thing on Lachie, you can criticise his form but you can’t criticise his effort every week. You watch him in defence, you watch him chasing every play – he never stops. He loves the Rabbitohs and gives his heart and soul to the place, whether he’s underachieved or not.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
