Zac Lomax has added further to his Origin case with another strong performance in the Dragons’ stunning 30-12 boilover win over the Warriors in Wollongong.
Playing in the centres, Lomax scored one of the tries of the year, leaping high above Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to claim a kick, while also landing a two point field goal and creating two line breaks.
What Michael Maguire will have noticed, however, was the unflashy grunt work. Lomax took a legion of hard carries and totally shut down Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in defence, forcing the Warriors to focus on the other side of the field.
“I think he needs to be discussed,” said coach Shane Flanagan.
“Let’s be fair dinkum about it. He’s just in form. In Origin, you need to have players like that. He comes up with big plays in big moments. I think he’s got the temperament to play Origin. It will be a good winger or centre to keep him out.”
The defence across the board was exceptional. Kyle Flanagan, in particular, pulled off several miraculous tackles as the Dragons showed all of the grit that we have come to expect from a Shane Flanagan side.
“Without a doubt (it was our) most complete performance – we just went for 80 minutes,” said the coach.
“I was pleased with how we stuck to our guns. It was just about confidence, we kept turning them away and Zac kicking the two-point field goal … overall it was our best 80-minute performance.”
It was assisted by a Warriors side that, again, struggled to convert territorial dominance into points. On top of that, they also lacked their usual defensive discipline, regularly allowing yardage penalties that lifted St George Illawarra out of pressure situations.
This was a statement win for Flanagan senior, a proof of concept in what he is trying to do. For counterpart Andrew Webster, this will be the most concerning sign yet for a team that has won, but not always impressed in 2024. Tonight, they did neither.
“We completely lost the ruck and they blew us away,” said the Wahs coach.
“You can’t have a poor attitude around errors when things don’t go your way and the boys are really disappointed in the way the game went tonight.”
Zac Lomax is a living example at the moment of how quickly the rugby league world can change.
Before the season, he was all but hung out to try by Flanagan, exiled to a wing and very much on the outer.
Now, he has confirmed that he is leaving for Parramatta – a win for all parties, you have to think – and in the best form that he has ever shown in the NRL.
The logic behind shifting him to the wing is obvious, and while Lomax played in the centre tonight, all of the same traits were there.
For all that coaches like to say they’ve simplified a player’s game, that is certainly true in this case.
He’s been stripped back to a big body, a strong carry, a target for kicks and a willing worker. While Lomax has the miracle pass and the flicked offload in his locker, we’re rarely seeing them.
The irony is that, while he has publicly rejected any move to the wing permanently, it looks likely to launch his career to new heights.
There’s no way that Michael Maguire is not watching these performances and wondering if they mightn’t be replicated in the Origin era.
The phrase ‘made for Origin’ is so overused as to be almost completely meaningless, and Lomax would have been the opposite of it. Too flashy, not consistent, all show and no grunt.
Now, he’s the opposite. Brian To’o has one wing, but the other is wide open. Don’t be surprised to see Lomax on it.
The first ten minutes looked dire for the Dragons.
They completed at 100%, but did absolutely nothing with the football, gradually losing metres on every set.
The average set distances were ten metres apart, which gradually moved the Wahs closer to the Dragons line, which, in turn, meant that any mistake would result in a break.
Jaydn Su’A gave away a penalty to gift field position and within a minute, Johnson was able to walk over under so little pressure that almost everyone watching thought there must’ve been an obstruction. There wasn’t.
It took 20 minutes for the Dragons to cross halfway, but their excellent goalline defence kept them from falling further behind.
The Warriors had been near-perfect, and while their ability to make metres up the middle never went away, they couldn’t maintain discipline around the ruck and were penalised four times around the 40m mark on exit sets.
All three of the Dragons’ first half tries were directly from avoidable penalties that were compounded by set restarts. Even the most conservative of attacking units will start to post points under those circumstances.
Crucially for Flanagan, they put themselves in a position to win, and for their opponents to make mistakes.
St George Illawarra did the same against Manly, who were undone by constant errors rather than penalties, though the net result is the same.
For a crucial point in the first half in the win over the Sea Eagles, they withstood huge pressure before cashing in late. That has now happened twice, and simply didn’t under previous iterations of the Dragons.
It has to be said that it was contributed to by the Warriors.
Their attack has been well underpowered this season: it was ropey against the Sharks and they lost, bad against the Raiders and they got away with it, not brilliant against Manly and they drew and now another defeat.
The ability to get into position is basically unmatched, but the execution is miles off. It’s very one-sided, favouring the right to the left, and a little too predictable.
danwain
Roar Rookie
I’m referring to the club agreeing to transition him to fullback over the years, and then not only not following through with that plan, but shifting him to the opposite centre, and now to the wing. Plans can obviously change, and that’s absolutely fine, but a lot of that comes from the ineptitude of the way the club has been run, from top to bottom. Everyone could foresee that McGregor wasn’t the answer, but they decide to persist and extend only to bin him a few months later. Likewise Griffin, that was simply never going to work but they held on forever and a day, while every single player regressed under him. I agree that Lomax came into first grade with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he could have worked harder over the years. It’s not all on him though, the club is a mess and culture starts at the top.
GodragonsGo
Roar Rookie
That’s an interesting statement to end on. Any facts to back that up Danwain? From my point of view and I can say I get to see very close to what the Dragons do Lomax has enjoyed quite a status at the club from well before he was a first grader. Probably too much status. Remember he was also heavily involved in BBQ gate. So unless you can show me otherwise the club has always bent over backward for Lomax.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've heard the expression, "you'll be the death of me", but didn't realise it applied to NRL Clubs
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think they only folded due to those conditions. The big players versus the smaller players , in the oppressive conditions . To that Dolphins line up that is. Why they wish to play in Darwin each season, is a mystery? Isn’t training, playing in Sydney’s West when it’s hot bad enough?
Tony
Roar Guru
It would probably be the death of him actually
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I reckon Parra is a 4 year project for a new coach and that would make Wayne close to 80, assuming he hangs around. Tough to see that happening but then again, it is Wayne Bennett
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
yeah, but Uncle Benny has the rep and the stones to run his own show.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I wonder if he'd be a good fit at the Eels, DP? I don't doubt he'd be fine with the players & supporters but over the decades, the Eels Board has had some "interesting" times. I could see Wayne having plenty to say if he didn't get what he wanted or the Board promised.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Young Kyle?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
he hasn't said that, so fair 'nuff :happy: I wouldn't have him .
Panthers
Roar Rookie
If I were them, I wouldn’t be letting Sloan go. Even if he’s not at Fullback. He wasn’t always fullback often before first grade , I was told? A bit more weight on him & in the centres perhaps? Let him go & it come back to bite them.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that, appreciated, I always knew we had players, but they weren't often a team. Having a competent coach is fixing that bit by bit.
danwain
Roar Rookie
I can't see any issue with it at all, has he said he won't play on the wing for NSW at some point?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
As a centre perhaps if he has a few more games like yesterday. Not as a winger, why? Because he has made it clear he doesn't want to play there. Would you take someone to a place they wanted to go if they didn't want a bar of you? Doubt it.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Brilliant effort by your Dragons last night. What a difference a good coach makes.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Shaping up to be a good game.
danwain
Roar Rookie
Come on DP, you don't really believe that. If he is good enough he deserves to be in the team.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I do wonder if Lomaz' move had as much to do with him not being able to take the p1$$ out of the coach rather than the position. I remember a carry-one he did on Fox with BlockerPie where he imitated Hook. It was quite unflattering and arguably disrespectful. Lomax has been dropped and stuff before and never this reaction. Is his sudden great form motivated by 'I'll show you for telling me I'm the 23rd best centre..'
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
After yesterday the drums will beat for Uncle Benny
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Totally different scenario. It's not like Hunt plays hooker for his club THEN leaves to play halfback but still puts his hand up to play hooker for his state. Tom T plays FB for his club but centre for his state. He isn't a centre hating the spot & wanting to be an FB.