Zac Lomax

[SaintPauli]

This is the biggest issue for me, he doesn't have a mentor. Tommy T had Stewart for example. His mentor is Dufty a player I actually like but also one that hasn't help every bomb ever put up to him.

The only mentors we seem to have is Dean Young and Flannagan who pride themselves on defence.

Penrith got Trent Barratt to help with attached and look at
Their performance.

Who do we have?

 

[Old Timer]

If Dufty or Norman was at the back today we get done by 30.
Sure he made some mistakes but he did some very good things as well but the cynics in here want it all today regardless of him playing behind a dud set of halves, behind a well contained if not beaten forward pack all the while the team utilising a "game plan" lol of a certified dud coach.
He showed up in support several times for our haves and forwards to as per usual ignore the player running onto the ball or into the hole.
FFS Hunt waited 53 minutes to take the line on and throws an ordinary pass.
Frizz finally finds a hole makes a huge bust and decides to try a pass which was typical of a bloke that doesn't hit open space and pass very often and a try goes begging.
We don't know how to attack and have a dysfunctional team so give the 20 year old a break and let him find his feet because he showed enough in many areas to say he at least has some potential to contribute something worthwhile and for the record his goal line defence was the best from a Dragon's FB since Dugan pulled up stumps.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

The only mentors we seem to have is Dean Young and Flannagan who pride themselves on defence.

Penrith got Trent Barratt to help with attached and look at
Their performance.

Who do we have?

Yeah no one, that’s why we need to cut him slack. We haven’t really learned to build a squad in the same way say the Rorters have with buying probably the best young half in the game to mentored by Cronk.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Any fullback will struggle with the rabble Saints have in front of him.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

If Dufty or Norman was at the back today we get done by 30.
Sure he made some mistakes but he did some very good things as well but the cynics in here want it all today regardless of him playing behind a dud set of halves, behind a well contained if not beaten forward pack all the while the team utilising a "game plan" lol of a certified dud coach.
He showed up in support several times for our haves and forwards to as per usual ignore the player running onto the ball or into the hole.
FFS Hunt waited 53 minutes to take the line on and throws an ordinary pass.
Frizz finally finds a hole makes a huge bust and decides to try a pass which was typical of a bloke that doesn't hit open space and pass very often and a try goes begging.
We don't know how to attack and have a dysfunctional team so give the 20 year old a break and let him find his feet because he showed enough in many areas to say he at least has some potential to contribute something worthwhile and for the record his goal line defence was the best from a Dragon's FB since Dugan pulled up stumps.

I agree, the main point is that Zac can practice catching bombs, as I’m sure he is but that defence was actually brilliant for a 20 year old. As was his vision to grubber to the winger in the first half albeit the execution a touch off. Just a smidge off that kick and he sets up a nice try. It’s probably more a confidence thing but I’m sure it will come. On other things who replaces Rava? Hopefully an actual winger.

 

[rasaint]

Hi OT I’m in my mid sixties now so I gather I have watched league like you for a long time.

I’m not ‘anti Zac Lomax’. He has made the NRL which is a great achievement on its own.As a dragon tragic I hope my less than enthusiastic response to Zac is wrong. My heart sank when I read of an exceptional long term signing ( like when Euan got a long term deal of 3 years) of Zac on very high money for his ability thus far. It’s reported at $500 to $600k for the next 5 years. His outstanding goal kicking adds to his base value but that is big coin for a chap I haven’t yet seen even make a genuine NFL break after beating blokes.

I had heard of Zac a few years ago and saw some lower grade YouTube highlights and he looked pretty slick. I watched him hit the scene in 2018 and almost from the get go thought ‘ does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary’ to my judgement. He got huge wraps and even Brad Fittler I think? described him as the gifted one. Privately I thought ‘I don’t think so but who am I to argue with legends’. Slowly other posters began to observe his lack of genuine dash and the nickname ‘slow max’ ( not my invention) was coined by a few characters here.

I am hoping Zac goes back to centre and becomes a tough uncompromising centre like Manu at The roosters who can shut down the opposition and bend the outer defender line but also kick goals. Manu is not that quick BTW.

I agree with you that Zac tackled well today except when wrong footed by Benji but that can happen to anyone. Even Matt Dufty in his long withering try against the roosters last year made Tedesco look like a plastic traffic cone during agility training.

I know you have always admired Josh Dugan and his defence. Fair enough. Remember Josh Dugan hit the seen as a prodigious teenage talent for the Raiders. Look at old YouTube highlights and it was his sensational attack that brought him fame and fortune. In some cases he beat player after player with buffering long runs and fearless charges. Yet Josh’s star was diminishing by the time he reached us. At Josh’s best ( early Raiders) his body shape was very lean and as he bulked he slowed markedly. I mention this because I don’t want another pedestrIan speed fullback with strong goal line defence at the dragons. I want an excitement machine like a Tedesco, nickel Kronstadt. I reckon that is what all us fans on the forum want. They can win you grand finals.

let’s get Zac Lomax back to centre and get a game breaking fullback. ( hopefully young Ramsey).

 

[Belta]

Not good. Before feeding Lomax to the lions I want to if he brings something to the side in a game where his team has more than 37% possession and somewhere close to equal field position. I thought this game was very similar in many ways to how we played in our last trial. To me it is a continuation of last year where we showed little to no game management and very little forward impetus. What is concerning is if that’s any indication of where we are at it’s gunna be a very long season. It may just take a pandemic to end our misery.

 

[BennyV]

Competent at fullback. Defensively very good and seemed to be everywhere in support, even if our other players dont know how to offload. I liked the grubber for a try, if was a touch long but maybe a quicker winger gets there. He deserves to keep the fullback jersey this year both on his play so far and the fact that there's simply noone better at the club, but he's not a natural there.

I'd be looking at bringing Ramsey in via the wing this year with an eye to put Lomax back to centre next year, or at the very least these 2 can compete for the jersey.

 

[Coffs dragon]

Pick & Stick, give him a go or he’ll be our next Kurt Mann and be shoveled around to a jack of all trades and master of none.

 

[SBD82]

I saw enough in that game to think that he could become a great fullback under a good coach.

So we better get him one.

 

[Dragonslayer]

So, after 1 game, some people on here see Zac as destined for the Kurt Mann school of desintergration. Really!!!
Firstly, I thought he had a good game, yes some mistakes, but sound.
Now look at the facts:
Ramsey - he's a development player for a reason. He didn't play CC yesterday.
Dufty - won't see first grade again unless there's an injury.
Sailor - see dufty, but will have more chance if position in the halves.

I see no-one is dissing on Tedesco after such a less than stellar defensive display on Saturday.

 

[RufusRex]

If you are giving him a shot then give him a decent shot ... 5 rounds minimum then start thinking about options.

OR give him an aitken shot ... 50+ games to see if he can improve.

 

[possm]

Hi OT I’m in my mid sixties now so I gather I have watched league like you for a long time.

I’m not ‘anti Zac Lomax’. He has made the NRL which is a great achievement on its own.As a dragon tragic I hope my less than enthusiastic response to Zac is wrong. My heart sank when I read of an exceptional long term signing ( like when Euan got a long term deal of 3 years) of Zac on very high money for his ability thus far. It’s reported at $500 to $600k for the next 5 years. His outstanding goal kicking adds to his base value but that is big coin for a chap I haven’t yet seen even make a genuine NFL break after beating blokes.

I had heard of Zac a few years ago and saw some lower grade YouTube highlights and he looked pretty slick. I watched him hit the scene in 2018 and almost from the get go thought ‘ does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary’ to my judgement. He got huge wraps and even Brad Fittler I think? described him as the gifted one. Privately I thought ‘I don’t think so but who am I to argue with legends’. Slowly other posters began to observe his lack of genuine dash and the nickname ‘slow max’ ( not my invention) was coined by a few characters here.

I am hoping Zac goes back to centre and becomes a tough uncompromising centre like Manu at The roosters who can shut down the opposition and bend the outer defender line but also kick goals. Manu is not that quick BTW.

I agree with you that Zac tackled well today except when wrong footed by Benji but that can happen to anyone. Even Matt Dufty in his long withering try against the roosters last year made Tedesco look like a plastic traffic cone during agility training.

I know you have always admired Josh Dugan and his defence. Fair enough. Remember Josh Dugan hit the seen as a prodigious teenage talent for the Raiders. Look at old YouTube highlights and it was his sensational attack that brought him fame and fortune. In some cases he beat player after player with buffering long runs and fearless charges. Yet Josh’s star was diminishing by the time he reached us. At Josh’s best ( early Raiders) his body shape was very lean and as he bulked he slowed markedly. I mention this because I don’t want another pedestrIan speed fullback with strong goal line defence at the dragons. I want an excitement machine like a Tedesco, nickel Kronstadt. I reckon that is what all us fans on the forum want. They can win you grand finals.

let’s get Zac Lomax back to centre and get a game breaking fullback. ( hopefully young Ramsey).

I'd say, Lomax is the least of our problems and it suffice to say that we have some good young fullbacks coming through from the lower grades and so, if they prove to be more suitable for the first grade fullback position, then Zac will find himself at right centre in first grade.

Our biggest problem by far is in our halves. Two overpaid halves that don't seem worried about their sub-standard performances - last season and round 1 this season.

Of course we all know that any halves pairing performs better when their forward pack is dominating. Individual performances from T Sims, Vaughan and Frizell were of a high standard however, there was little support for them when thay made breaks from their fellow team mates; forwards or backs.

I'd say changes need to be made. Some players need to be replaced to send a message and at training, more work needs to be put into support play.

I did see enough positives in our defence to say that with a little more work on support play, we should bo much better than last season.

So let's make some changes:
Out
Lafai
Aitken to stay out
Norman
Graham
Ravalawa if injured

In
Fuimaono at right centre
Saab if Ravalawa is injured
Clune
Blacker

Work On
Middle forward defence
Support play
Targeting of opposition halves/playmakers
Short and long kicking game.

 

[RufusRex]

Blacker is no way ready ... Was shown up big time in the shield ... Will be a good player but not yet.
Tyrell played well but we saw last night why he is ideal for the bench.

Graham out for sure with Host/Ford coming onto the edge and Frizz to lock is an instant improve.

 

[possm]

Blacker is no way ready ... Was shown up big time in the shield ... Will be a good player but not yet.
Tyrell played well but we saw last night why he is ideal for the bench.

Graham out for sure with Host/Ford coming onto the edge and Frizz to lock is an instant improve.

Your replacing a prop with a backrow forward.

After watching the game last night is was clear to see we are short on props and long on backrowers. Blacker should be given his chance as the 4th prop in the rotation:
8. Kerr
9. Hunt
10. Vaughan
11. Frizell
12. T Sims
13. Merrin

14. Brittain
15. Lawrie
16. Blacker
17. Ford

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

The only mentors we seem to have is Dean Young and Flannagan who pride themselves on defence.

Penrith got Trent Barratt to help with attached and look at
Their performance.

Who do we have?

Are you saying having Barrett as a coach is a good thing?

 

[giboz71]

I'm happy to leave Lomax at FB. Sailor is the only other viable option and he's not up to it defensively.

Was a shame we lost Rava, he was looking like our best attacking option before he went off. TBH, what we started with last night looks to be our strongest backline, unless we can somehow fast track Saab and turn Rava into a centre.

Ideally we should just bite the bullet and get an established FB (like AJ from Souths), stick Lomax in at right centre, and suddenly our backline is not so crap.

 

[BLM01]

Your replacing a prop with a backrow forward.

After watching the game last night is was clear to see we are short on props and long on backrowers. Blacker should be given his chance as the 4th prop in the rotation:
8. Kerr
9. Hunt
10. Vaughan
11. Frizell
12. T Sims
13. Merrin

14. Brittain
15. Lawrie
16. Blacker
17. Ford

I thought Merrin was ordinary last night or had little impact or game time unless he’s not fully fit

 

[muzby]

So, after 1 game, some people on here see Zac as destined for the Kurt Mann school of desintergration. Really!!!

Of course.. He’s had his standard season and a bit in first grade, and now that we have a shinier new toy in Ramsay, Lomax heads to the scrapheap of future legends of the forum..

 

[BLM01]

Blacker is no way ready ... Was shown up big time in the shield ... Will be a good player but not yet.
Tyrell played well but we saw last night why he is ideal for the bench.
Why move Frizz I thought his attack last night was great sure you stuffed up the last pass but most of the
Graham out for sure with Host/Ford coming onto the edge and Frizz to lock is an instant improve.

Blacker is no way ready ... Was shown up big time in the shield ... Will be a good player but not yet.
Tyrell played well but we saw last night why he is ideal for the bench.

Graham out for sure with Host/Ford coming onto the edge and Frizz to lock is an instant improve.

Why move frizz. I thought his attack was good last night he threatened more than anyone else yes he mucked up the last pass but is the best I’ve seen him running where he should be for years