Sport Confidential: Zac Lomax push to exit the Dragons intensifies
St George Illawarra have drawn up their wishlist of Zac Lomax replacement targets and top of the list are a Parramatta excitement machine and a Melbourne man mountain.
Brent Read and Michael Carayannis
less than 2 min read
March 28, 2024 - 12:00PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://archive.md/msgMN#share-tools
Zac lomax has intensified his push to leave the Dragons. Picture: David Swift
St George Illawarra are preparing for Zac Lomax to ask for an immediate release as the parties prepare for crunch talks next week.
Lomax is again expected to request to exit the club immediately. The Dragons’ indicated before round one that they would put any potential talks on his future on hold until after round four. That time will come next week after the Dragons play Manly on Saturday night. No formal meeting has planned for next week as yet however is an anticipation that a call will come from Lomax’s management to the Dragons camp where they could again intimate Lomax’s desire to leave the club.
Zac lomax has made it clear he wants out of the Dragons. Picture: David Swift
The Dragons have already told Lomax they have no intention to release him despite Parramatta circling. The door is slightly ajar to cut Lomax adrift at season’s end which would free up about $800,000 off St George Illawarra’s books. Parramatta have the scope to land him now.
The Dragons could be enticed to let Lomax go immediately should a rival club propose a player swap. They wouldn’t hesitate if the Eels would be prepared to part with emerging young gun Blaize Talagi but that would be at long odds from occurring.
St George Illawarra are also aware of growing unrest regarding Nelson Asofa-Solomona at the Storm.
Parramatta’s impressive youngster Blaize Talagi is high on St George’s wishlist. Picture: NRL Photos
Nelson Asofa-Solomona and the Storm. Picture: David Crosling
They are yet to engage in any talks of a potential player swap until they have some clarity surrounding Lomax. Salary cap space is not a concern for the Dragons – they have plenty of wiggle room – but need to secure some high profile players to fill any potential void.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Lomax’s future, he has proved to be a revelation playing on the wing for the Dragons to start the season and has been easily their best player.
His desire to shift back to centre could come as soon as next week with Jack Bird on notice after a poor showing in recent weeks.
His form has been noticed by NSW coach Michael Maguire who has told Lomax that he is on the radar for a potential Origin debut.
I think there is close to zero chance that he plays wing for another club this year. If a club has a right centre that they like more than Lomax, they won't take him on.Feels like dejavu with Ben Hunt going to a qld club to play hooker.. a position he despises and will sook about if made to play it at the Dragons...
There is a huge chance Lomax ends up on the Wing wherever he goes.. it just depends who the incumbent right ctr there is.
I agree........the thing that pisses me off we keep hearing that Lomax is playing in a position atm thats better for the team .....seriously !!!!!!! If it's better for the Team and we've been flogged and had 90 odd points scored against us in the last 2 games does that suggest then that if he's moved backed to the centres we might have 150 scored against us in the next 2 ......honestly this whole saga is complete crap and needs to be sorted todayLomax is playing in a position that is best for the team however, he is a better center than Bird.
Given the choice, play him at center. Not having a crack at Birdy but who is going to play longer.
Hopefully, we will see Lomax in the center position in the best 17 named.
100% and thats why hes not our longterm fullback either.. his passing game and decision making is really average.. i.e. hes not a creative/spine player.. his lot in life is to run hard tackle hard jump hard.. and he does it bluddy bluddy well.. he just needs to get his brain around that its something he should be proud of ... I mean look he can probably do a lot of the same things from centre also, but I think he provides more net positives to the team from the wing.. it really comes back to the quality of your roster for that particular year in terms of where he is needed... it shouldn't really matter..I might be in the minority but my general view of Lomax has been that's he's always been a strong player and good defensively but with the ball in hand as a centre he only has the one trick which was his draw and flick pass to Rava. Hence why he has often been the centre of discussions for a number of years.
Since taking up the wing spot we have seen a lot more freedom in his game as well as utilising him as a safe option collecting and returning kicks. He has started to find the try line all of a sudden. I say we stick this one out longer and if he wants and can go and be an unremarkable centre at some other club and we can put his money to good use. He ain't a patch on Matt Cooper.
The grass may not be greener at the other side. Zac may thing he is a top centre and that is where he should play. but will the other club coach think like he thinks. Statistically there are 22 centres that are better than Zac.I might be in the minority but my general view of Lomax has been that's he's always been a strong player and good defensively but with the ball in hand as a centre he only has the one trick which was his draw and flick pass to Rava. Hence why he has often been the centre of discussions for a number of years.
Since taking up the wing spot we have seen a lot more freedom in his game as well as utilising him as a safe option collecting and returning kicks. He has started to find the try line all of a sudden. I say we stick this one out longer and if he wants and can go and be an unremarkable centre at some other club and we can put his money to good use. He ain't a patch on Matt Cooper.
Exactly! If Lomax is only the 22nd best centre in the NRL, where the hell does Bird sit on the list? He'd be lucky to be in the 30's I would suggest.Release Bird not Lomax and if he doesn’t want to go push him.
34th out of starters 44th after the few speckled in from cup after injury to the startersExactly! If Lomax is only the 22nd best centre in the NRL, where the hell does Bird sit on the list? He'd be lucky to be in the 30's I would suggest.
I am confused, some say thats not hard but I was watching the TV & they showed the Dragons entering the field on their captains run & when Zac Lomax entered he pointed to the Dragons logo on his training shirt. WTF its reported he wants to leave and is unhappy but performs this jesture to the camera ??