Shock switch floated for struggling star as Bunnies set to sign Super ...

Lachlan Ilias’ South Sydney career could be nearing its end with the Rabbitohs reportedly close to luring English halfback Lewis Dodd to Australia from next season.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Dodd is on the verge of agreeing to a deal lasting up to four years, with the 22-year-old informing St Helens of his decision to move on.

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Dodd has quickly emerged as one of the standout talents in the Super League and has evidently caught the eye of the Rabbitohs, who are hoping for a secure option in the No. 7 jersey.

The St Helens star is already no stranger to big moments against NRL teams as he kicked the matchwinning field goal in golden point to beat Penrith in the 2023 World Club Challenge.

With Dodd arriving at South Sydney next season, it places the future of Ilias at the club under a cloud of uncertainty.

Ilias began the season as the Bunnies’ halfback but was dropped from first grade after a string of lacklustre performances.

Although his replacement Dean Hawkins has also failed to set the NRL alight, Ilias’ season was cruelled in devastating fashion after he sustained a gruesome leg injury during a NSW Cup game against the Warriors.

Despite his spell on the sidelines for the majority of this season, Ilias is reportedly not going to be short of any suitors.

According to News Corp reporter Brent Read, the Bulldogs could be the ones leading the Ilias sweepstakes amid a shortage of quality halfbacks bouncing around in the NRL.

“I reckon it’s pretty well documented that they (Bulldogs) need a No. 7,” Read said on Triple M’s Saturday Scrum.

“So I reckon keep an eye on that, whether that’s the next domino to fall, Lachlan Ilias potentially ends up at Canterbury.”

TOWNSEND COULD STAY AS TAUMALOLO RUMOUR SHUT DOWN

Elsewhere, there has been a twist in the future of Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend, with the premiership winner now a chance of staying put in Townsville beyond his current contract.

It was expected that Townsend would be on the lookout for a new club, and potentially a fresh start overseas, when his three-year, $2.1 million contract expires at season’s end.

Instead, News Corp reported on Friday that Townsend’s management has began preliminary talks with the Cowboys on a new deal ahead of his milestone 250th game against Penrith.

“Chad is the most credentialed halfback currently off-contract in the NRL,” Townsend’s manager Chris Orr told News Corp.

“He is a real pro and brings that game management and on-field coaching that some of the teams this year are missing terribly.”

In other news up north, Orr also shut down suggestions Jason Taumalolo could be forced into medical retirement as he deals with a degenerative knee condition.

“There are no discussions of retirement,” Orr said.

“No one from the Cowboys has mentioned any retirement talk and definitely no one from my client’s side of the fence has raised it, so it’s simply not right.

“Up until last year Jason had never had surgery. He had no run of injuries for six or seven years which is quite remarkable given the demands of the position he plays.”