The Roosters and Dragons’ ANZAC Day clash consistently serves as a brutal contest — but this year there is more on the line for two embattled playmakers.
Lachlan Ilias and Sandon Smith have been under fire for lacklustre performances to start the season, with the Tricolours’ No.6 avoiding the axe as his partner, Chad Townsend, made way.
Ilias, meanwhile, was torched by coach Shane Flanagan after the Red V’s loss to the Rabbitohs in Round 2, delivering a damning answer when asked about his halfback’s display.
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“You were here, weren’t you? You can make your own assessment,” Flanagan said at the time, pointing to Ilias’ inability to ice the contest after holding a 12-point lead.
Ilias’ agent Braith Anasta later revealed his client had just “two or three” games to save his spot after a golden point loss to the Eels, speaking on NRL360 on April 8.
However, the former Rabbitohs halfback has since flipped that script, steering the Dragons to back-to-back wins with fellow recruits Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes firing.
“Lachy is a professional, the way he approaches the game and his attitude. He’s a resilient, tough bastard because he has copped quite a bit to start the year,” Anasta told foxsports.com.au.
“I think he has handled it and bounced back quite nicely considering the pressure he was under and he had to, that was the way it was.
“He still needs to keep delivering, he’s a halfback at a big club and that’s the expectation for him to put his best foot forward and perform.
“I think he will only get better, he’s into a new system, coming off a broken leg and they probably should have won the other two games they didn’t.
“They could have been a lot higher up and he wouldn’t have the pressure on him. He just needs to focus on his game and he’s been doing that.”
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Meanwhile, fellow playmaker Smith has endured waves of criticism in what has been a horror start to the season for the rebuilding Roosters.
The 22-year-old was seen as the man to shoulder the load left by Sam Walker, who is set to return late in the season from an ACL injury.
However, after five rounds and only a single win, Trent Robinson swung the axe, narrowly missing Smith and instead punting veteran Townsend in favour of rookie Hugo Savala.
“I think they’ve made some good changes this week, they’ve struggled in the halves,” Anasta said.
“Sandon Smith has struggled this year, I expected more from him and he has got the blow torch on him a bit, I think they expected more from him also.
“He has to lift his game Sandon, he was the one that was going to hold it together and all of a sudden they are looking to a rookie in Hugo Savala to do it.”
On the other hand, Anasta says he’s been impressed with Ilias’ manner and has backed him to put in another strong performance on ANZAC Day.
The Roosters have won five of the last six ANZAC Day clashes against the Dragons, including a 60-18 thumping last year.
But this time the tables have turned and a win will see the Red V remain in the top eight at the conclusion of Round 8.
“I expect the same on Friday, it’s a big game… he (Ilias) knows the expectation there and I know he can get the job done for his team,” Anasta added.
“He’s a hard worker, he’s got a great attitude and he’s a great human being and I’ve been really proud of the resilience he’s shown in a really tough time, he’s getting it done.”
Anasta isn’t writing off his former club the Roosters, believing they can still reach the finals if they can win enough games before halfback Sam Walker returns from an ACL injury, scheduled to be fit to take the field in June.
“They aren’t out of the race, they can make a run,” Anasta said.
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He also highlighted the Tricolours’ lack of consistency, after they secured an upset 26-16 win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in Round 6 before suffering a horror 40-12 loss to the Panthers a week later.
“That win against Brisbane was their best game of the year, their attitude, speed out of the line and their intensity,” Anasta said.
“If they can do that every week they can definitely put themselves in a position to make the finals especially with Walker coming back.
“But they’ve just been so inconsistent. The weekend (against Penrith) wasn’t good, they were in that game for quite a while and they just conceded too easily on their edges.”
Robinson has also swung the axe ahead of their Dragons clash, dropping high-profile wing recruit Dom Young who has struggled defensively in 2025.
With Billy Smith returning from suspension in the centres, Mark Nawaqanitawase will shift to the wing, having retained his spot over the former Knights flyer.
“They’ve made some changes there, I think Billy Smith the week before was brilliant but he was out with suspension and I think he strengthens this team,” Anasta said.
“Nawaqanitawase going to the wing, I think that suits him at the moment because he has been struggling with his defensive reads.”
Anasta believed Young’s omission was a positive decision, despite his $500,000 salary.
“I don’t think it is a bad thing they’ve dropped Dom Young, I think he has been struggling for a while,” Anasta said.
“He probably needs to go back and work on his decision making and his intent with his carries, he has some work to do.”
“It’s hard to get a read on where they land, but if they can play like they did against the Broncos most weeks they will be in the hunt.
“But if they dish up (performances) like they did against Souths, they are not.
“Roosters at their best will be on the edge of the eight, but when they aren’t they are playing like a team not even close to the eight.”
