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St George Illawarra may have found Josh Dugan’s replacement in towering teen Zac Lomax
Paul Crawley, The Daily Telegraph
GOODBYE Josh Dugan, hello Zac Lomax.
That’s the word coming out of St George Illawarra this pre-season as expectations build around this towering 18-year-old who wants to wear the Dragons’ No.1 jumper in 2018.
An Australian schoolboy and a standout in Brad Fittler’s NSW under 18s last year playing in the centres, Lomax stands at 6’4 in the old scale and has the talent to match his frame, as well as a burning desire.
As Paul McGregor told The Daily Telegraph this week when we inquired if Lomax would be ready to play NRL next season: “You don’t want to give kids too much praise because they are only kids but he is our standout trainer by far.
“He is our fittest player in the club.”
The 18-year-old has impressed with his focus in preseason training.
And he has the football in him to back up his fitness.
Fittler himself came into the top grade as a teenager so he knows exactly what it takes for young blokes to cut it against the men.
“I reckon he will be one of those blokes that once he gets his crack that will be it. You won’t be getting him out,” Fittler said.
“In last year’s game we weren’t going that well and Zac stepped up. Kicked the field goal, scored the try to win us the game really.
“In the under 18s state game he was very dominant playing in the centres. He is someone to watch out for, for sure.
“And I don’t think confidence is a problem for Zac either, which is a good thing being a young bloke.
“He just 100 per cent loves it. Totally dedicated, and he backs himself.”
Dragons coach Paul McGregor with Zac Lomax.
Which is exactly what Lomax has been doing in the countdown to Christmas, leading the way in “absolutely anything”.
“We haven’t actually put them through the timing gates (for speed) but the yo-yo test for arguments sake, which is the endurance test for repeated speed, he wins that,” McGregor continued.
And while most outside the club are tipping Matt Dufty or Kurt Mann to be fighting it out for the No.1 jumper next year, McGregor admits Lomax has made his intentions clear.
“He has a desire to play fullback because I think he feels that is where his best opportunity might be to play first grade,’ McGregor said. “But he is doing a bit of centre work and on the wing.
“You try to train them up in multiple positions so if the opportunity comes and they are ready you can blood them early.
“I won’t really know where Zac fits in until I start seeing him play against men. But he is in our top 30 and he will be challenging for a position at some stage.
“This kid has a real good fitness base, and he is big and he has done everything he has needed to do at a young age. So it is now just about doing it against men.”
LINK: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...x/news-story/1a0c828d16a2f2b212232de3ff143230
Paul Crawley, The Daily Telegraph
GOODBYE Josh Dugan, hello Zac Lomax.
That’s the word coming out of St George Illawarra this pre-season as expectations build around this towering 18-year-old who wants to wear the Dragons’ No.1 jumper in 2018.
An Australian schoolboy and a standout in Brad Fittler’s NSW under 18s last year playing in the centres, Lomax stands at 6’4 in the old scale and has the talent to match his frame, as well as a burning desire.
As Paul McGregor told The Daily Telegraph this week when we inquired if Lomax would be ready to play NRL next season: “You don’t want to give kids too much praise because they are only kids but he is our standout trainer by far.
“He is our fittest player in the club.”
The 18-year-old has impressed with his focus in preseason training.
And he has the football in him to back up his fitness.
Fittler himself came into the top grade as a teenager so he knows exactly what it takes for young blokes to cut it against the men.
“I reckon he will be one of those blokes that once he gets his crack that will be it. You won’t be getting him out,” Fittler said.
“In last year’s game we weren’t going that well and Zac stepped up. Kicked the field goal, scored the try to win us the game really.
“In the under 18s state game he was very dominant playing in the centres. He is someone to watch out for, for sure.
“And I don’t think confidence is a problem for Zac either, which is a good thing being a young bloke.
“He just 100 per cent loves it. Totally dedicated, and he backs himself.”
Dragons coach Paul McGregor with Zac Lomax.
Which is exactly what Lomax has been doing in the countdown to Christmas, leading the way in “absolutely anything”.
“We haven’t actually put them through the timing gates (for speed) but the yo-yo test for arguments sake, which is the endurance test for repeated speed, he wins that,” McGregor continued.
And while most outside the club are tipping Matt Dufty or Kurt Mann to be fighting it out for the No.1 jumper next year, McGregor admits Lomax has made his intentions clear.
“He has a desire to play fullback because I think he feels that is where his best opportunity might be to play first grade,’ McGregor said. “But he is doing a bit of centre work and on the wing.
“You try to train them up in multiple positions so if the opportunity comes and they are ready you can blood them early.
“I won’t really know where Zac fits in until I start seeing him play against men. But he is in our top 30 and he will be challenging for a position at some stage.
“This kid has a real good fitness base, and he is big and he has done everything he has needed to do at a young age. So it is now just about doing it against men.”
LINK: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...x/news-story/1a0c828d16a2f2b212232de3ff143230
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