“Zac may be a winger for Origin”: Hunt supports Lomax’s switch
If Shane Flanagan’s choice to move Zac Lomax from center for the Charity Shield proves effective, Dragons captain Ben Hunt thinks the winger could push his way into the NSW Origin squad.
Lomax, who has made 93 NRL appearances for St George Illawarra, has played fullback, wing, center, and even front row. On Saturday night, he will switch positions with fullback Tyrell Sloan.
Before the game, Lomax declined to talk about his most recent positional change after it was the topic of rumors and discussion about his switch from right to left center under former coach Anthony Griffin 12 months prior.
Nonetheless, Hunt feels that Lomax’s skill, strength, and stature make him the perfect fit for the wing, and the 24-year-old could be elevated into the Blues’ State of Origin lineup with this move.
Hunt told NRL.com, “I genuinely think he’s got all the tools to be one of the best wingers in the comp.”
Big and strong, he competes fiercely in all areas, excels at carrying the ball in the backfield, and is good under the high ball.
We’ll have to wait and see how things work out, but he has the potential to be a wing player for Origin football. I believe that will depend on the trials and the coaches’ wishes.
For his first game in charge of the Dragons, Flanagan has selected Jack Bird and Moses Suli in the centres, with Sloan and Lomax likely to switch positions against the Rabbitohs.
Although Lomax has filled a variety of roles since making his bench debut in 2019, this is just the latest ruse by a coach to figure out how to best use him. Nevertheless, he is still one of the first players selected each week.
Hunt stated, “There’s definitely a spot for him in our 17.” Determining our best 17 players and whether to use him at fullback, center, or wing is all that needs to be done. I suppose that’s what the trials will resolve.
Since the start of his NRL career, there has been discussion about Lomax’s ideal position, but he is content to play wherever the Dragons need him most.
We haven’t won as many games as we would have liked, so that question probably gets thrown around a lot, which is why there is always so much speculation about the position, according to Lomax.
“If it’s better for the team, I’m willing to play front row and take Blake Lawrie’s spot. I would wear No. 10 since he adores it.
Although Lomax was clearly kidding, he has been in the front row at times.
“I was placed in the front row for a short while in 2019 as I was coming off the bench,” he stated. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to take the kick-off; I actually stood there off it.”
During his first two NRL seasons, Lomax alternated between playing at wing, fullback, and center, but since the third round of the 2020 season, he has only played in the centers.
When asked which position he preferred, Lomax said, “I like to be in the center. Right now, I’m just trying to do what’s best for the team, which is me at the wing.”
He has, nevertheless, been practicing all three positions, and according to Flanagan, Lomax and Sloan might switch between fullback and wing positions, much like Valentine Holmes and Ben Barba did when Cronulla won the premiership in 2016.
Earlier in the preseason, Flanagan told NRL.com, “It is such a big job, and Zac is a big thing, so you could swap them around during different times of the game.”
He is going to be a different kind of full back. Given his strength, power, and fitness level, it is likely that he will be heavily involved in the club.
With his involvements and carrying meters, he would probably be comparable to Dylan Edwards in my opinion, but distinct from him.
He hasn’t played there in a while, and fullbacks are crucial these days, particularly when it comes to defense inside the 20-meter zone, so Zac has a learning curve to overcome.
