ˈæftɚ wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt ɡˈeɪmz wɪððə nˈuː zˈiːlənd wˈɔːɹɪɚz, lˈɪlɪmən dᵻsˈaɪdᵻd ɪt wʌz tˈaɪm tə ɹᵻtˈɜːn tʊ ɔːstɹˈeɪliə, sˈaɪnɪŋ ɐ wˈʌnjˈɪɹ kˈɑːntɹækt wɪððə nˈuːkæsəl nˈaɪts stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪtiːn.
After 188 games with the New Zealand Warriors, Lillyman decided it was time to return to Australia, signing a one-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2018.