NRL News: Disgruntled Dragon in Origin mix, radio crackdown after Latrell f-bomb drama, World Club Challenge to Vegas?

St George Illawarra star Zac Lomax is not happy about being shunted to the wing but it could lead him to his first State of Origin jersey.

The disgruntled former centre has been agitating for a release from the club with Parramatta ready to take over his lucrative contract which runs until the end of 2026.

St George Illawarra have told the outside back they are happy to discuss the situation again next month, once Lomax has settled into the wing role and the opening four rounds are complete.

New coach Shane Flanagan shifted him to the wing after reinstating Jack Bird from the forwards to centre and Lomax was a standout in their Round 1 win over the Titans and was one of the few Dragons to put in a decent performance in last Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins.

Incoming Blues coach Michael Maguire, according to a NewsCorp report, phoned Lomax after his impressive first-up performance to let him know that he was under consideration for a NSW debut this season.

Zac Lomax of the Dragons is tackled. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

With Josh Addo-Carr and Brian To’o likely ahead of him on the pecking order, Lomax will need to continue his rapid improvement on the wing but he has the size and pace to make a fist of the role while also being a reliable goalkicker.

Former NSW coach Brad Fittler has said Lomax is better served on the wing, and Bird can also see advantages for the Dragons.

Latrell drama prompts NRL’s radio edict

The NRL has informed radio stations that they can no longer film interviews on the field of play after South Sydney issued a complaint to head office in the aftermath of the Latrell Mitchell swearing incident.

Mitchell raised eyebrows with a Triple M radio cross on Thursday night, saying “f***” four times and that he didn’t “care if I’m swearing” as he reflected on the Rabbitohs’ 28-18 loss to Brisbane.

The incident has drawn extra attention to an underperforming Rabbitohs side, with Mitchell’s teammates downplaying the severity of the comments when quizzed on Monday.

Souths whinged to the NRL about Triple M not having media rights to film interviews on the field after matches with only host broadcasters Nine and Fox Sports enjoying that right.

Radio stations were sent a missive on Tuesday night reminding them that they only have audio rights and “must not visually record or film any match or on-field activitiy, including on-field interviews”.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has denied giving Mitchell special treatment by meeting with the South Sydney fullback rather than imposing a sanction following his profane radio interview.

Latrell Mitchell. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The NRL chief executive said it was “bold” to suggest the league was afraid to fine Mitchell for his comments, and that he “wouldn’t be doing his job” if he did not meet with star players regularly.

The NRL has been reluctant to sanction Mitchell, one of the game’s most marketable and high-profile players, with Abdo instead committing to meeting the Souths fullback.

Brisbane great Corey Parker questioned the tactic on radio on Monday, and Canterbury football boss Phil Gould also claimed on Channel 9 that the fullback had become “bigger” than those in charge.

But Abdo rejected suggestions that Mitchell was being given preferential treatment by having a meeting organised.

“I think it’s important to note that I will always catch up with a player,” he said at the launch of the NRL’s Multicultural Round.

“There’s always been an open invitation to catch up with any player or official in the game from time to time on a range of matters.

“We have a number of high-profile players, and Latrell is one of them.

“He’s a role model, he’s a leader, and if there’s an opportunity to engage with him and work with him on a range of issues confronting the game, then I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t doing that.”

Abdo bristled at suggestions the NRL was afraid to sanction Mitchell.

“That’s quite a bold statement to make and we’ve proven over the past that when a player breaches the rules and we believe it warrants a breach action, we take it,” he said.

“Equally, we’ve been accused of being too harsh on players. 

“Everyone will have their view on that. I’m really comfortable with where this sits, and I’m comfortable with the action that we’re taking at the moment.”

Abdo was quick to highlight that fellow players Brandon Smith and Toby Rudolf were investigated and also not fined for their own controversial media comments in the past.

Smith repeatedly swore in an interview with the YKTR Podcast in 2021, and Rudolf caused a stir for saying he would buy “1000 beers” and “try and pull something” at a bar when he spoke to Fox Sports about a win that season.

“This is consistent with how we’ve dealt players before,” Abdo said.

Vegas return plans imminent

The NRL is set to announce in a matter of weeks the teams to travel to Las Vegas for the opening round of the 2025 season.

The league is also exploring whether the World Club Challenge or Super League games could be included as part of the second annual foray into the American market.

Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney and Manly were chosen as the guinea pigs in the NRL’s Las Vegas experiment, carried out across two games at Allegiant Stadium this month.

While US television ratings were poor, the event proved a pilgrimage for overseas NRL fans, with a healthy contingent of the 40,000-strong crowd journeying from Australia.

The NRL is keen to entice another batch of travelling fans next year and is hopeful a prompt announcement will provide ample planning time.

“We’re hard at work on finalising who the four clubs will be,” said NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.

“We don’t have anything to announce just yet but we don’t want to sit on it and we want to make sure that we bring that to a head in the next couple of weeks.

“We want to build and make this even bigger and have the opportunity for even more fans to go to next year’s event and give them as much time to plan.”

The Roosters have already indicated their interest in returning to Las Vegas after winning their match against the Broncos, while the Sea Eagles are keen to take at least one year off.

The NRL appears likely to select at least one non-NSW team, with Melbourne and Canberra indicating their interest in playing this year and the former coming close to selection.

Penrith appears a natural choice given their ability to showcase a high-quality brand of football.

Jacob Gagai scores a try at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The triple reigning premiers will also be forced out of Penrith Park amid redevelopments in 2025 so appear unlikely to be fazed by the prospect of giving up a home game.

The Las Vegas Nines competition and combine for prospective NRL recruits are likely to feature as part of the weekend again.

“Clearly we want to make as much noise in America as possible, to welcome new fans into the game,” Abdo said.

“We want to have more people at the stadium, we want to have more people in America watching and following the game, those are the two key metrics that we’re working on.”

The NRL will get creative as they look to make the event bigger and better in 2025 at the urging of the Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys.

The World Club Challenge could be an option for inclusion on the program, given the clash of NRL and Super League champions is usually held at a similar time period.

“(We’re) looking at the World Club Challenge, looking at Super League games and also considering how we can get female athletes participating in America eventually,” Abdo said.

“Those are some of the priorities the Commission have challenged us to come up with so we’re hard at work.”