Just when St George Illawarra thought the worst was behind them after a season from hell, the Dragons are now facing the very real threat of losing the club’s most exciting young talent.
On the eve of their return for pre-season training, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that young gun Zac Lomax is about to officially put himself on the open market.
Lomax, 20, is contracted for next season but is now free to negotiate his future beyond 2020.
Unfortunately for the Dragons, Lomax has indicated he wants to test the market.
It is expected that he will enter talks with asmany as six rival clubs in the coming weeks.
It is understood the Dragons are desperate to keep Lomax and have all but guaranteed him first crack at owning the No.1 jumper in 2020 as a way of keeping rivals at bay.
Lomax is regarded as one of the best young centres in the game but he has already indicated his long-term goal is to establish himself as an NRL fullback.
It was thought that could work in the Dragons favour given Lomax would probably struggle to lock down the fullback spot at most rival clubs at this point of his career.
But that theory was blown apart when Lomax’s manager Steve Gillis confirmed when contacted on Sunday that his client had made a decision to see what offers are out there for him.
“There are clubs who have indicated that they would like to talk and he’s quite happy to give them the courtesy of having a discussion,” Gillis said.
Gillis’ management company also looks after Lomax’s Dragons teammates Matt Dufty and Euan Aitken.
Dufty and Aitken have been reportedly shopped around to rival clubs in recent months.
Gillis said both players had a contract with the Dragons for 2020 and had no plans of seeking an early exit.
The Wests Tigers are known to be one club keen on Lomax but his hopes of playing fullback at the Tigers would be dependent on what move Latrell Mitchell makes.
The Tigers are also chasing an outside back as well as a fullback.
Like Mitchell, Lomax has the added value of being a quality goal kicker which makes himeven more valuable.
The Tigers have $1.7 million in available salary cap space for next season so they could potentially afford both Mitchell and Lomax and still have money to spend.
Lomax has long been regarded as a young player with huge potential. NSW coach Brad Fittler once labelled him “the gifted one”.
It would be highly unlikely the Dragons wouldrelease Lomax for next season even if he secured a future elsewhere.
But you’d imagine it would also make it extremely difficult for Paul McGregor to pursuehis plans of playing Lomax at fullback if he does decide to sign at a rival club.
For that reason the longer these negotiations drag on the more it could potentially disrupt the Dragons’ preparations for next season
