FLANNO DENIES LOMAX LEAVING
Incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has shot down a
report that he’ll allow star centre Zac Lomax to leave the club.
Lomax is on $800,000 per year and has been underperforming this season, with St George Illawarra sitting 16th on the ladder.
Flanagan admitted Lomax needed to improve but said 23-year-old will be seeing out his contract which runs until the end of 2026.
It comes less than a week after the Dragons rejected a release request from skipper Ben Hunt who wants to return home to Queensland.
“I want all my players to want to be at the club and Zac Lomax is exactly the same as Ben Hunt – he won’t be leaving the club at anytime soon,”
Flanagan said on 2GB.
“I’ve spoken to Zac, I want to work with him, I want to improve him and he needs to play better underneath me and that’s my job.
“We won’t be contributing letting any players go.”
HUNT SPOTTED IN BRISBANE AFTER DRAGONS LOSS
Ben Hunt has left Sydney for Brisbane as speculation continues to swirl around his future in the wake of the Dragons’ 52-16 loss to the Sharks.
Channel 7’s Michelle Bishop revealed Hunt’s trip to Brisbane on
SEN radio amid speculation who could join the Broncos on a short-term deal for the rest of the season before joining the Titans in 2023.
“Ben Hunt has left the state and has touched down in Brisbane,” Bishop said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I can’t report exactly what he’s doing there.
“We can only think that he may be meeting up with his manager to discuss his next move.
“He could be going on a family holiday, we are just not sure.
“Clearly something has gone on behind the scenes (with the Dragons).
“Is his heart still in it? I’m not sure.
“It’s time to nip it in the bud and just move on.”
Andrew Voss was critical of Hunt’s performance against the Sharks on Thursday night and believes his passion for the Dragones is gone.
“You have got to call it when you see it,” Voss said.
“He was poor last night in the effort areas.
“Compare Ben Hunt’s effort and contribution for Queensland in Origin compared to Thursday night for the Dragons, you would say that player is going through the motions.
“The big picture of the contract situation, that is not good for Ben Hunt or the Dragons.
“His intensity was no more than six out of 10.
“You can’t put in performances like that for the rest of the season.”
The 33-year-old has scored 78 tries in 305 games for the Broncos and Dragons since his debut in 2009, while he has played 16 Origins for Queensland and 12 Tests for the Kangaroos.
Flanagan responds to $800k star’s reported departure; Hunt spotted in Brisbane: Transfer Whispers
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