St George Illawarra youngster Zac Lomax has re-signed with the NRL club until the end of the 2025 NRL season.
St George Illawarra have re-signed fullback Zac Lomax on a historic six-year deal, despite the youngster playing just one game in the crucial NRL position.
The Dragons on Thursday confirmed a contract extension for Lomax, who was set to enter the final year of his deal, until the end of the 2025 season.
Only halfback Ben Hunt, who has completed the second of a five-year deal with an option for a sixth, has been given a longer contract by the merger club.
The highly-touted Lomax recently admitted to meeting with a number of rival clubs, having been linked with Newcastle, Canberra and the Wests Tigers.
But the 20-year-old instead committed to staying in Wollongong, where he had been developed since moving from Temora as a 13-year-old.
“Being able to go back to Temora at Christmas knowing my future is settled and I’m definitely going to be a Dragon for a while yet is very exciting,” Lomax said.
The announcement comes just a fortnight after coach Paul McGregor declared Lomax would be given first crack in his preferred position of fullback.
Lomax has played just one game at No.1, carrying the ball for 146 metres from 13 runs and committing three errors in a 22-9 loss to Cronulla in May.
He has made just 17 appearances in total since his debut last year.
“With 2020, I’ve attacked every session possible and soaked up as much information as I can when it comes to playing fullback,” Lomax said.
“I realise I still have a lot to learn but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.”
Dragons recruitment officer Ian Millward described the re-signing as a “no-brainer” before hinting at a leadership role for Lomax down the line.
“Zac is already the benchmark at training. With his attitude and attention-to-detail we see him as a future leader of our club,” Millward said.
“The cherry on top is he’s an outstanding goal kicker so we are pleased to shore that up too.”
Zac’s older brother Hayden, who struggled with injury this year, earned a one-year extension and has been listed as a development player.
The re-signings cap off a busy week that included the extension of Tristan Sailor, the return of veteran Trent Merrin, and departure of Luciano Leilua.
The focus for the club will likely turn to off-contract star Tyson Frizell, while Euan Aitken, James Graham and Tim Lafai are also without deals in 2021.
Stood-down lock Jack de Belin, also off-contract, faces trial for rape in March – to which he has pled not guilty.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Strange deal..no doubt he’s a great young player but six years?
mushi
Roar Guru
Is 500k under the current cap banking on him being a star?
Alan Reid
Roar Rookie
Arrow has been very consistent in the 2 seasons he's been at the Titans and is one of the first forwards chosen for Qld in SOO, where he has played extremely well. However, 800 grand a year would be as much as you'd want to pay him. Anything more would be overs imo.
R N
Roar Rookie
Lomax 6 years and let Leilua go... ????
mushi
Roar Guru
If money is of no concern then contract length isn't relevant because the length just says how long you have to pay that money: 1 year x no concern = zero concern 7 year x no concern = zero concern
mushi
Roar Guru
I agree being exaggerated as to the extent but it is still additional risk.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Ken, I've no idea what sort of money's being offered, so that's not my concern. The length of the contract is. He's a 20 year old who's had what I consider an average/okay start to his career. I don't see why he needs to be tied up with such a long term contract when the jury is surely out on exactly a) how good he's going to be and b) whether he's the answer for the Dragons at fullback. If the powers that be were concerned about other offers, they could have locked him into a 2 year deal, see how he goes, then take things from there. I'm also wondering where that leaves the Club when trying to negotiate deals with other players, now they've decided an 18 game first grader should get a 6 year contract?
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Rabbitohs have lost three of their best in Sam Burgess, Greg Inglis and John Sutton, as well as George Burgess. They got James Roberts back but he had been a dud. It's quite a gap between the Storm and Roosters, and the rest. The club reeks of desperation. And good luck signing Frizell, most of our juniors tend to stick around. We lose some of course, as do other clubs. How many Souths juniors are there in your top 30? 5? 6?
KenW
Guest
It's a long deal but the money in it is not extravagant. They have locked him in as a first grader, not a rep star. The length is unusual but it's not really that risky. Whispers of being a future star or club captain don't have to come true for this to work. As long as he's worthy of a 1st grade spot for the time of the contract then it's a good anchor point in the salary cap.
Paulie
Guest
I wouldn't be bragging about how souths run their club, they just lost 2 players 2 years in a row after paying massive overs for players with pre existing injuries and now leaving a massive hole in their playing roster. Back to competing for the spoon for them.
KenW
Guest
Just re-read my comment and realised 25 man squad looked odd. A quick google reminds that it's a 30 man squad so that average $ falls a bit. Not really significant to the point I was making though.
KenW
Guest
It isn't anywhere near as risky as it is being made out to be. The 2020 salary cap is 9.8M - which averages out to $400k per player in a 25 man squad. Of course, the best players take quite a lot more and players 20-25 get considerably less. Lomax's contract is $500k per year. That money requires him to be a solid first grader at fullback or a slightly higher standard at centre/wing. That's it, they are locking in a big, athletic, goal kicking back that they are confident will be playing first grade. If he does kick on to being a rep star then they've got a bargain (until upgrades come at least). But that is not required to make this contract work.
Paul
Roar Guru
This decision is quite simply stupid. The coach of a team who came second last has already decided this guy is their absolute-for-sure-and-certain fullback after just one game last season. Then Mr Ian "no brainer" Millward suggests this 6 year deal is a really good one. The bloke is 20 years old and has not exactly set the world on fire, yet he's offered guaranteed money for 6 years. What happens if he crashes and burns at fullback? Will he keep playing there if Mary (hopefully) gets the bullet? If Lomax comes good, will he then resent his contract further down the track if he feels he's not getting enough money and do a Latrell on the Dragons? The only recent decision more ridiculous than this was to extend MacGregor's contract last year and how did that work out for the Red V in terms of results? Good on Lomax for getting this contract and I truly hope he does well for my boys, but the actual deal itself should never have been offered, at least not till he proves himself more.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Souths have finished 3rd the last 2 years in a row and won a premiership 5 years ago not 10. How does that compare with the Dragons? The $4 mill for Arrow is over 5 years so $800K a season which is still $100K - $200K too much IMO. But Souths have lost Sam and George Burgess and need to plug that hole fast. You better hope that they still aren't after Tyson Frizell. If he leaves the Dragons their forward pack collapses.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yet another massive punt being taken by the Dragons’ brains trust. Smacks of desperation in hoping the kid eventually turns into a star, rather than staying the fumbler we have seen so far in his NRL career ? In my mind Sailor would be the better option for them to consider longer term.
mushi
Roar Guru
Yep under a salary cap you can’t outspend so you need to generate additional value elsewhere – coaching, success, club culture, better hotels, better team dinners, training facilities, staffing, contract terms etc. If you’ve just had a tough year and money’s tight for some of the ancillary then you need to take some risks to maximise the value of your roster.
mushi
Roar Guru
It will depend a lot on the culture at the club and how he feels. It's rarely the player being perfectly utilised that does this (Bateman's probably the exception but even that seems to have died down). You also should get time between when he starts being under paid and when he starts resenting it, if you don’t then he’s a player not a team member. And if you’ve got half decent management (acknowledge he’s at the dragons) they will notice the warning signs of the resentment building. I’d think the probable avenue is after a year or two of clear out performance you talk about restructuring the contract and in all likelihood you end up still at a marginally below market rate (typical for retention plus you can point to offer versus obligation etc) so I’d view a 6 year deal as a 3-4 year deal with pre-emptive option to negotiate and built in good will. Now is that option + goodwill worth it… depends on the obligations at the back end of that contract I suppose. They could always just rig a competition to give him free tickets to Bali in year 4 if it’s not working out for them.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
There was a very good chance he would be off to another club as he wasn't playing regular first grade and is a highly rated player. I guess Mary coming out and promising him the fullback spot combined with a 6 year deal made it too good to pass up. I have no doubt if the Dragons took their time he wouldn't be at the club in 2021
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The Rabbitohs are throwing $4m at Jai Arrow after one good season for a terrible team. Look in your own backyard before criticising other clubs. Also Garrick was stuck behind Nene MacDonald and Jason Nightingale and hadn't done anything special in th lower grades. He was forced to look elsewhere so I'm happy he got an opportunity
Insider
Roar Rookie
Mmmmm, smells like Campo to me,