Zac Lomax

[Saints Forever]

I wonder if there are plans for Lomax to play 5/8? We could do worse ( ie Flanagan). He doesn't have a kicking game, but neither did Anyone.
Strong runner, strong defender and the flick passes might come off closer to the ruck with a defence on the back foot.
?

If Tamale has a breakout year and Sloan reaches NRL level as a fullback, Lomax to 5/8 would be a good move. Very solid defender, good passer of the ball. I suspect given the fact that he takes the goal kicks that he would have a decent kicking game. Greater involvement with ball constantly in hand.

 

[BLM01]

If Tamale has a breakout year and Sloan reaches NRL level as a fullback, Lomax to 5/8 would be a good move. Very solid defender, good passer of the ball. I suspect given the fact that he takes the goal kicks that he would have a decent kicking game. Greater involvement with ball constantly in hand.

Disagree has does not have a kicking game nor can he pass well both sides unless he has practiced that this off season?

 

[hewi]

Hopefully in 2025 Lomax will be a permanent centre as we have bid farewell to Bird.

 

[Saints Forever]

Disagree has does not have a kicking game nor can he pass well both sides unless he has practiced that this off season?

I hear you BLM01.

As I said, I suspect Lomax has the ability to kick long range punts because he clearly has the ability to kick long range goals.

I did not say I know for certain

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Hot off the press, on another site, apparently zacs dad says zac is a very happy dragon atm.

So if he ends up in the wing, it’s expensive, but he’d probably be ok.

In the meantime, Interest in him at wt refuses to go away. There’s some history in trying to entice him over, so I’ve learned today.

But we’ve got Bula at fb and GI has joined us in training, so no room at the inn there.

If zacs happy, that’s a good benchmark for other SGI players as he’s more a bit emotional at times lol.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I reckon Lomax will be fullback in round 1.

Unless Sloan has absolutely turned in to a beast since Christmas.

I doubt Flanagan will accept the holes in his game from last year. He’s all about competing.

I hope he has turned in to a beast.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I reckon Lomax will be fullback in round 1.

Unless Sloan has absolutely turned in to a beast since Christmas.

I doubt Flanagan will accept the holes in his game from last year. He’s all about competing.

I hope he has turned in to a beast.

I have my suspicions too.

Flanno was really out there telling anyone who would listen that Sloan was a natural fb but I thought he protests too much!

But Zac can slip into a number of positions If required.

That’s part of his allure. He’s always going to be handy, a great asset.

If flanno wants to grind his way to wins, natural attacking prowess is priceless.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Flanno may throw Lomax in a few positions to upskill him more than anything. He knows what a great centre he is but needs to probably learn more and by doing so play different roles. He may even throw Lomax at 5/8 for all we know. Media just trying to stir the pot and make it out he is on the outer.

My favourite player Jason Nightingale played a few roles before cementing the wing. He ended up being an absolute beast in defence and attack. He could read the game so well because of it. Always at the right place at the right time.

 

[Jersey No 14]

Lomax. Lock!

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Flanno may throw Lomax in a few positions to upskill him more than anything. He knows what a great centre he is but needs to probably learn more and by doing so play different roles. He may even throw Lomax at 5/8 for all we know. Media just trying to stir the pot and make it out he is on the outer.

My favourite player Jason Nightingale played a few roles before cementing the wing. He ended up being an absolute beast in defence and attack. He could read the game so well because of it. Always at the right place at the right time.

Yes, Florence was a player who instilled a lot of confidence.

Players may want their coveted position, but it’s a team sport.

I read he’s on $700k and people say that $700k is too much for a winger but in reality I think he’s a utility back/fb and half in a pinch.

Latrell is probably less flexible positionally with less inherent skill, relying on bulk and strength. A lot more expensive and suspension prone.

there’s going to be some grit this year, but I hope there’s some discipline.

As a fan and wt club member, I can accept a strong reaction to provocation, but the manu event was rubbish and unforgivable.

Still, south’s can’t do enough to placate some of their senior squad. Now with Wighton, party at Redfern for a few years.

 

[hewi]

Why the Dragons haven’t nailed a position for one of their biggest earners​

By Dan Walsh​

February 6, 2024 — 7.40pm
Save



Zac Lomax is in line for a potential shift to the wing after training across the Dragons’ entire back five this summer.
Lomax, who ranks behind only captain Ben Hunt among St George Illawarra’s highest-paid players, has been Shane Flanagan’s everywhere man throughout the pre-season and slotted onto the wing for a portion of last Friday’s scrimmage against Manly.
https://archive.md/ASC1M#

​

https://archive.md/ASC1M#
The 24-year-old’s preference is to resume the right-centre role where he has played most of his 93 NRL games.
But Flanagan has flagged a return of Jack Bird to right centre – where he won a premiership with Cronulla in 2016 – alongside winger Mikaele Ravalawa.

Plans to swing Lomax and Tyrell Sloan around as fullback, particularly to use the extra 10 kilos on Lomax’s frame when coming out of the Dragons’ end, have him in the frame to line up alongside Moses Suli on the left edge.
Negotiations to sign Manly’s Christian Tuipulotu are also progressing and could see the 22-year-old in red and white by the end of the week, giving Flanagan another backline option along with regular 2023 left winger Mat Feagai.

Zac Lomax endured a tough 2023 season.CREDIT: GETTY
“I’ve trained everywhere in the back five,” Lomax said ahead of next week’s Charity Shield trial against South Sydney.
“I’ve trained at fullback, I’ve trained at right centre, left centre, a little bit of right wing and left wing too.


“I’ve just been training wherever Flanno’s asked me to train, I’ve jumped at it and I’m learning as much as I can.
“[Given the choice] I’d play centre for sure. That’s where I play. I like playing fullback with a little bit of room to run, but I’d play right centre.
“Through my whole career I’ve played every position really since I first came in, everywhere in the back five.
“It’s interesting with a new coach that sees different things, so I’m not too sure where I’ll play.”
Flanagan was quick to shut down reports Lomax, who earned around $700,000 last year and is signed until the end of 2026, was free to explore options elsewhere when he was announced as Dragons coach.

He has repeatedly talked up Lomax’s potential and the need to capitalise on the talent and athleticism that has had him in NSW Origin contention previously.
The Dragons’ 45 four-pointers down their right edge featuring Lomax and Ravalawa last year were the equal-most of any team in the NRL, and accounted for 53 per cent of all St George Illawarra’s tries.

Lomax’s preference is to play right centre.CREDIT: GETTY
Conversely, the 54 tries scored against their left-edge defence were easily the most in the competition, well ahead of the 46 conceded by the Tigers via the same channel.
Anthony Griffin switched Lomax to the left in an attempt to shore up that edge defence before axing him to reserve grade in May, with Lomax returning at right centre under interim coach Ryan Carr.

Lomax’s rare ability under the high ball and a potential roving offensive role – not dissimilar to that aimed to keep Joey Manu’s involved at the Roosters – looms regardless of whether he lines up at centre or on the wing.
“I might do a bit of Sloan and Lomax swapping around a bit,” Flanagan said two weeks ago.
“As long as you don’t start confusing yourself, it [has merit]. It’s not a big swap. It would be done on changeovers and penalties. It’s not like you’re swapping positions during the run of play. But it could work at some point.”

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Why the Dragons haven’t nailed a position for one of their biggest earners​

By Dan Walsh​

February 6, 2024 — 7.40pm
Save



Zac Lomax is in line for a potential shift to the wing after training across the Dragons’ entire back five this summer.
Lomax, who ranks behind only captain Ben Hunt among St George Illawarra’s highest-paid players, has been Shane Flanagan’s everywhere man throughout the pre-season and slotted onto the wing for a portion of last Friday’s scrimmage against Manly.
https://archive.md/ASC1M#

​

https://archive.md/ASC1M#
The 24-year-old’s preference is to resume the right-centre role where he has played most of his 93 NRL games.
But Flanagan has flagged a return of Jack Bird to right centre – where he won a premiership with Cronulla in 2016 – alongside winger Mikaele Ravalawa.

Plans to swing Lomax and Tyrell Sloan around as fullback, particularly to use the extra 10 kilos on Lomax’s frame when coming out of the Dragons’ end, have him in the frame to line up alongside Moses Suli on the left edge.
Negotiations to sign Manly’s Christian Tuipulotu are also progressing and could see the 22-year-old in red and white by the end of the week, giving Flanagan another backline option along with regular 2023 left winger Mat Feagai.

Zac Lomax endured a tough 2023 season.CREDIT: GETTY
“I’ve trained everywhere in the back five,” Lomax said ahead of next week’s Charity Shield trial against South Sydney.
“I’ve trained at fullback, I’ve trained at right centre, left centre, a little bit of right wing and left wing too.


“I’ve just been training wherever Flanno’s asked me to train, I’ve jumped at it and I’m learning as much as I can.
“[Given the choice] I’d play centre for sure. That’s where I play. I like playing fullback with a little bit of room to run, but I’d play right centre.
“Through my whole career I’ve played every position really since I first came in, everywhere in the back five.
“It’s interesting with a new coach that sees different things, so I’m not too sure where I’ll play.”
Flanagan was quick to shut down reports Lomax, who earned around $700,000 last year and is signed until the end of 2026, was free to explore options elsewhere when he was announced as Dragons coach.

He has repeatedly talked up Lomax’s potential and the need to capitalise on the talent and athleticism that has had him in NSW Origin contention previously.
The Dragons’ 45 four-pointers down their right edge featuring Lomax and Ravalawa last year were the equal-most of any team in the NRL, and accounted for 53 per cent of all St George Illawarra’s tries.

Lomax’s preference is to play right centre.CREDIT: GETTY
Conversely, the 54 tries scored against their left-edge defence were easily the most in the competition, well ahead of the 46 conceded by the Tigers via the same channel.
Anthony Griffin switched Lomax to the left in an attempt to shore up that edge defence before axing him to reserve grade in May, with Lomax returning at right centre under interim coach Ryan Carr.

Lomax’s rare ability under the high ball and a potential roving offensive role – not dissimilar to that aimed to keep Joey Manu’s involved at the Roosters – looms regardless of whether he lines up at centre or on the wing.
“I might do a bit of Sloan and Lomax swapping around a bit,” Flanagan said two weeks ago.
“As long as you don’t start confusing yourself, it [has merit]. It’s not a big swap. It would be done on changeovers and penalties. It’s not like you’re swapping positions during the run of play. But it could work at some point.”

Thanks for posting, very interesting.

I think it confirms the views here.

And there’s honestly nothing wrong with him sliding about in different roles depending on the game, injuries and suspensions.

The games been modelled around squads for years and it’s not as if he is a fringe player. Hell do a better job on the wing than dedicated wingers under him who have never played anywhere else.

Not perfect, but he’s a talent.

A fine utility is definitely worth 700k, I don’t know why that’s controversial.

 

[st.phil]

Is the 700 more rumour tho? Lomax must have negotiated an appreciating deal as reports were when he signed that it was 580-600.

Gonna trust Flanno as I think this move is far more about Bird than Lomax - Zac will do well wherever he plays where as he may see bird as centre or bust, will be interesting. Signing Tuipoloto will add even more heat on

 

[Wolfgang90]

Is the 700 more rumour tho? Lomax must have negotiated an appreciating deal as reports were when he signed that it was 580-600.

Gonna trust Flanno as I think this move is far more about Bird than Lomax - Zac will do well wherever he plays where as he may see bird as centre or bust, will be interesting. Signing Tuipoloto will add even more heat on

Flanno sounds like he's against Bird in the forwards. I don't understand his obsession with Bird being in our top 17 considering Bird's inconsistent defence, suspect attack (beneficial for the team?), injury prone & form issues. There's not much upside to him. I get Flanno was close to him but that was 8 years ago & I don't think it's beneficial to show preferential treatment to Bird when there's not much upside to the team.

I don't have an issue with preferential treatment to certain players when it helps the team, I just don't see it with Bird, especially at the expense of Lomax who is our future.

 

[Dragon David]

See how the trials go and then we will have a better idea who should be in the right hand side centre position and who should be fullback and whether or not Bird should actually be in the 17 come comp start time. I'd like for all of the position selections settled much earlier than later. I'd like to see Lomax come into the play more often and the same goes for Sloan.

I know that we do have some newbies with us this year and so Flanno would definitely like to see how effective they will be and he will tinker with a few positions until it is right to keep as a unit for the combinations to work.

 

[Dragon David]

This is what I hope will happen guys.

'Win a comp': Star's bold declaration after horror season

As uncertainty lingers over position

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[Slippery Morris]

Zac sounds pumped for 2024 and is enjoying the change with Flanno which is good to see. I am hoping this year is his breakout year and he makes a rep team.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

He’ll be fullback. That’s why he’s champing at the bit I’d reckon.

Flanno is building a big, strong, physical side.

 

[Mojo]

This is what I hope will happen guys.

'Win a comp': Star's bold declaration after horror season

As uncertainty lingers over position

wwos.nine.com.au

I'm so pleased just to hear anyone at the Dragons utter these words. Regardless of how challenging it will be there is always only one objective - to win the competition. Yes, we've had some really bad years lately; yes, of course, we have to improve .... Regardless, we are competing to win. Eyes on the prize.

 

[BLM01]

He’ll be fullback. That’s why he’s champing at the bit I’d reckon.

Flanno is building a big, strong, physical side.

Wrong then hopefully right