Dragons centre Zac Lomax set to miss four to eight weeks with broken thumb
Written By Troy Whittaker
@troywhittaker98
St. George-Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra centre Zac Lomax is likely to be sidelined for at least a month after the Dragons on Friday revealed the 19-year-old has sustained a broken thumb.
According to the
NRL Physio, Lomax will miss around four to eight weeks depending on the severity of his break.
Zac Lomax has been ruled out for the Dragons this weekend with a broken thumb. Tough to accelerate return to play from a broken thumb due to importance in hand function + extensive range of movement, usually a 4-8 week return to play. 4 weeks needed for adequate bone healing
- NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio)
June 14, 2019
Lomax has been scratched from Sunday's clash versus Manly, with the Dragons granted approval from the NRL to bring Lachlan Maranta into their 21-man matchday squad as a replacement.
Maranta, 27, scored 30 tries in 70 games as a winger for the Brisbane Broncos between 2012 and 2016 before briefly joining the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby.
He arrived at St George Illawarra midway through the pre-season and has turned out in the centres for the club's reserve grade team during the year.
Lomax's absence leaves the Dragons sans a regular goal-kicker, with Gareth Widdop (shoulder) and Tim Lafai (ankle) both injured and Jai Field named on the bench.
Halfback Ben Hunt and five-eighth Corey Norman shape as the likely candidates to receive the tee.
The setback to Lomax comes just after the Dragons regained some troops following a disastrous run with injury to begin the season.
Prop Korbin Sims returned from a broken arm two weeks ago, while Norman made an assured comeback following a broken jaw as the Red V broke a five-game losing streak against Canterbury last Monday.
With Lomax out and fellow centre Lafai not due back until round 16, Maranta could string multiple NRL games together as a stopgap option.
Dumped winger Jordan Pereira may be in line for an NRL recall if coach Paul McGregor chooses to shuffle his backline.
https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...lomax-broken-thumb/17i18sa5yxufe1rkpsvxbwpqio