Zac Lomax

[RufusRex]

With Lomax playing a handful of games it ruins his chances of getting a rookie of the year award next season if he kills it.

Should have won it this year. I will allow him to get Centre of the year next year as compensation though.

 

[RufusRex]

the beauty with this scenario , that Aitken would also cover any backline position as well...Imagine replacing Friz or Tariq and told he has 2 15 mins sessions to run hard on the edge at tiring defenses , and tackle what ever moves
If Lomax solves our centre problem we desperately need a classy speedy finishing winger , possibly Tupou
Young Lawrie stepped up in outstanding fashion in a pressure cooker atmosphere yesterday , and he along with Korbin , Luch Host all vying for starting and bench spots , to compliment our imposing forward pack..
2019 looking ok

You would use half of your teams interchanges on Aitken? To give him 2 15 minute stints you might need that ...

Bench makeup should be

2 x Props (Korbin and Lawrie)
1 x Edge (Luciano)
1 x Utility (Mann or Robson)

Aitken is battling with Leilua for that final spot and you take Leilua every time.

 

[aquiin]

Unrealistic to believe Lomax would play the whole season in first grade. The hand injury meant he didn’t play when they were looking at him being part of the team. He would have played on the wing to start his career.

Campbell Graham is a similar player, a little older but also a physically bigger player. Had a hand injury as well and they waited to bring him back. Not 100% but I don’t think they have asked him to play centre yet. Jesse Ramien is the other comprable player and he’s more than two years older.

The benefit in delaying young players or playing them in other positions is obvious. There’s 1 in 100 that are picked in their natural position who play through without too many issues. Gasnier and Cooper played wing, left right. JMorris too.

 

[Frank Facer]

Lomax has real footy smarts.
Put a fast winger outside him next year and he will have every opportunity to score plenty of tries.
The really good thing about him is his calmness and ability to regroup.
No doubt Latrell Mitchell is a very classy centre but subject to brain explosions and I think Lomax has the potential to be just as devastating minus the dumb shit.
It will be good to watch him develop.

A NSW centre pairing of Mitchell and Lomax looks like a pretty exciting prospect.

 

[Frank Facer]

Yeah, but in a way the media liked Aitken more than this forum did?

Fittler thought otherwise.

Other centres weren't performing early in the season, and Aitken basically palmed off GI and ran through holes gifted by Widdop & Hunt.

We paid the price long term for a few of Aitken's. overhyped outings IMO?

Before the season started I wanted Lomax starting at centre and said that he was the best outside back prospect that we have had since Gasnier.

Funny, very early in the season, when Aitken was playing well and getting rave reviews, I made a comment saying that I wanted Aitken to get injured as that was the only way he was going to not be in the team and that is the only way that Lomax was going to get a shot as Mary wasn't going to be dropping Aitken and promoting Lomax. lol I think it was Old Timer and Dragonsammy who both commented on my Aitken getting injured comment. I expected a bit of flack for that comment, but now it looks like I have been proven right again. lol Just imagine if Aitken did get injured early in the season and Lomax got a start. We probably would won the minor premiership and Lomax would have been one of the top contenders for rookie of the year, as I predicted he would win, if given the chance to play first grade early in the season.

 

[Frank Facer]

Geez, you’re being a bit harsh on Aitken. He goes alright. Just needs to work on his positional play in defence. Lomax is great, I’m a huge fan and he has heaps of potential but he’s only played 170mins of first grade. We’re lucky to have both centres at the club, we should be happy about that. I think you’re being a bit over the top about both.

I disagree, with you about Aitken. He is a one trick pony, who only scores tries from close range. He positional play in defence is terrible. He can't pass the ball and set up his winger. He doesn't know how to play centre. He is isn't fast enough. Lomax is one of our long term centres, but Aitken isn't.

 

[Frank Facer]

You would use half of your teams interchanges on Aitken? To give him 2 15 minute stints you might need that ...

Bench makeup should be

2 x Props (Korbin and Lawrie)
1 x Edge (Luciano)
1 x Utility (Mann or Robson)

Aitken is battling with Leilua for that final spot and you take Leilua every time.

I would have Host taking the last bench spot ahead of Aitken. That would leave us with 4 forwards on the bench and no back.

 

[Old Timer]

A NSW centre pairing of Mitchell and Lomax looks like a pretty exciting prospect.

That is still a long way off but certainly something to look forward to in 2021 maybe.
I think NSW are so well off for backs that Tommy Turbo & few others will be playing out of position in SOO which will hold up people like Lomax..

 

[Corner_Post]

I disagree, with you about Aitken. He is a one trick pony, who only scores tries from close range. He positional play in defence is terrible. He can't pass the ball and set up his winger. He doesn't know how to play centre. He is isn't fast enough. Lomax is one of our long term centres, but Aitken isn't.

The footy IQ that Lomax has already at 18 is already higher than Aitken. Doubt you would see Aitken setting up a try like Lomax’s yesterday.

 

[Frank Facer]

With Lomax playing a handful of games it ruins his chances of getting a rookie of the year award next season if he kills it.

I thought the same thing. I think it is if one starts 3 games or more, then they are no eligible for rookie of the year after that.

It is also no good for Supercoach next year. If Lomax hadn't got a chance to start this season, he price for next year would have been rock bottom, but now it will be mid range. I had him in my Supercoach team at the start of the season.

 

[Frank Facer]

That is still a long way off but certainly something to look forward to in 2021 maybe.
I think NSW are so well off for backs that Tommy Turbo & few others will be playing out of position in SOO which will hold up people like Lomax..

I would have had Tom Turbo at centre for NSW this year, I probably would have picked Roberts on the wing, but Turbo proved to be very good under the high ball on the wing this year, probably better than Roberts would have gone. I was a bit disappointed with Roberts this year for NSW. I think he is a bit of a hog, that is why I think he is more suited to wing.

I can see Lomax pushing Roberts out of his centre spot by 2020 at the latest, especially if Fittler is still coach, as we all know that Fittler has a massive wrap on him and has even labeled him "The Gifted One".

I will predict my 2020 NSW origin team, baring injuries.

1 Teddy
2 Tom Turbo
3 Lomax
4 Mitchell
5 Addo Carr
6 Moylan
7 Cleary
13 DeBelin
12 Sims
11 Pangai Junior
10 Klemmer
9 Cook
8 RCG

14 Radley
15 Frizell
16 Vaughan
17 Haas

ps, Cordner will be there, but I wouldn't even have Cordner in contention. I would have players such as Crichton and Jake Turbo both ahead of him.

 

[aquiin]

McLean, Cotric will be there in 2019 and the years ahead.

 

[Dracarys]

Wow. That remark is singularly inappropriate.

 

[Frank Facer]

McLean, Cotric will be there in 2019 and the years ahead.

If I had been picking the team, Mclean probably would have got a shot last year and Cotric would have come very close to playing this year.

 

[Frank Facer]

Lomax is beginning to show his class. I like him as a centre, but is fullback his future position? Lomax looks like a complete footballer. At the start of the season I did say that Lomax was our best centre and best fullback prospect, I still think that is the case. Fullback is a more important position on the field and a marquee player position too.

Dufty had a very good game on the weekend. I never wrote him off, but I do know he still has deficiencies that he has to fix in his game. I am hoping that he does improve those things and improve his ability to inject himself into the backline and be hitting holes, like Holmes is right now and like Slater does. His passing game looks to be improving and hopefully, continues to improve. If he can improve those things and his ability under the high ball and become more effective in defence. Dufty will have a very long and successful NRL career.

If Dufty isn't our long term fullback, then I think we may already have our answer in Lomax.

Field surprised me a bit when he got a chance a few weeks ago. He too could be a future 5/8 for us. As I said before I like the idea of a speedy 5/8 who is prepared to play direct. Dufty, Lucky, Lomax and Lawrie have all stepped up to the plate when given their chance, when all except Lomax had their knockers for one reason or another, maybe Field can too? Imagine a future backline of

1 Dufty
2 Saab
3 Marsters
4 Lomax
5 Matherson Johns
6 Field
7 Hunt

I know it probably won't happen, but any of those players could eventually be playing those position's for us in the future, but 3 will be there next year and Marsters and Field could be playing if injuries occur. Sailor is another who possibly could play first grade in the future, but as with Field, many on this site say that his defence isn't good enough for first grade. I do believe that one must be able to tackle to play first grade, but it didn't stop Soward playing many, many games.

I thought Lawie had his best game so far on the weekend too. I was a doubter of Lawrie, as I questioned if he was big enough for the forwards, but if he continues to play like he did on the weekend or even improve, then he will be playing a lot more games in first grade too. To win a comp, you usually need a mix of youth and experience. Lomax, Lucky, Lawrie and Dufty will all be a lot more seasoned and ready for first grade next year, after their experience this year. With the addition of 2 or 3 good outside backs and another good prop, we are a genuine premiership chance next year, but I know, we need a new coach too.

A new coach would be walking into a ready made premiership team if we made those 3 or 4 signings. If I was a coach I would be very interested in taking the job. I wouldn't have liked my chances of being a successful coach, when Mary took over, but now we have the cattle and Mary still could manage it well enough. Sorry for mentioning Mary in this post. I am not one to harp on about Mary and don't even read the Sack Mary thread, as I think it is too boring. lol

 

[dragon thomo]

Just on this week there is talk in the media around Atkin being fit. Surely that would be a mistake. Lomax will have his hands full with Inglis but we need him there for his goal kicking also the uncertainty he gives when he has the ball in his hands.

 

[Frank Facer]

I would have had Tom Turbo at centre for NSW this year, I probably would have picked Roberts on the wing, but Turbo proved to be very good under the high ball on the wing this year, probably better than Roberts would have gone. I was a bit disappointed with Roberts this year for NSW. I think he is a bit of a hog, that is why I think he is more suited to wing.

I can see Lomax pushing Roberts out of his centre spot by 2020 at the latest, especially if Fittler is still coach, as we all know that Fittler has a massive wrap on him and has even labeled him "The Gifted One".

I will predict my 2020 NSW origin team, baring injuries.

1 Teddy
2 Tom Turbo
3 Lomax
4 Mitchell
5 Addo Carr
6 Moylan
7 Cleary
13 DeBelin
12 Sims
11 Pangai Junior
10 Klemmer
9 Cook
8 RCG

14 Radley
15 Frizell
16 Vaughan
17 Haas

ps, Cordner will be there, but I wouldn't even have Cordner in contention. I would have players such as Crichton and Jake Turbo both ahead of him.

I will also add that by 2020, I think think I would take Lucky over Cordner for NSW, as long as Lucky gets to play a lot more first grade between now and then.

 

[Frank Facer]

Just on this week there is talk in the media around Atkin being fit. Surely that would be a mistake. Lomax will have his hands full with Inglis but we need him there for his goal kicking also the uncertainty he gives when he has the ball in his hands.

I obviously agree that Lomax has to stay at centre. With Widdop out, Lomax's ability to kick goals will hopefully keep Mary from dropping him for Aitken. If Widdop wasn't injured, then Mary would have most likely dropped Lomax for Aitken. lol What will be even more interesting is to see if Mary picks Lomax at centre next year or Aitken and Lafai. If I had to guess what Mary will do next year, I would guess Mary goes with Aitken and Lafai as our centres and starts with Lomax on the wing. No winger deserves to play outside of Aitken and Lomax should stay at centre, unless he is moved to fullback at a later date. Hopefully, next year we have a new coach who is well aware of Aitken's deficiencies.

I feel a lot more confident in defence and attack with Lomax at centre, instead of Aitken.

 

[LINESPEED]

I disagree, with you about Aitken. He is a one trick pony, who only scores tries from close range. He positional play in defence is terrible. He can't pass the ball and set up his winger. He doesn't know how to play centre. He is isn't fast enough. Lomax is one of our long term centres, but Aitken isn't.

The footy IQ that Lomax has already at 18 is already higher than Aitken. Doubt you would see Aitken setting up a try like Lomax’s yesterday.

Zac backs up thé ball carrier brilliantly - as would Field, given half a chance

We ain’t seen nothin’ yet fellas

 

[41yearsaint]

After what Inglis's clone did to Aitkin against the Roosters. Surely its a no brainer.