Lomax calls for more security after pitch invader hug

Scott Bailey | April 27, 2023

Zac Lomax has called for more security at NRL grounds after he was hugged by a pitch invader during St George Illawarra’s Anzac Day NRL loss to the Sydney Roosters.

NSW Police spoke with Lomax after Tuesday’s match, and a man has since been charged with common assault of the Dragons centre.

The man has also received a two-year ban from Allianz Stadium and fined, after the likes of James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans expressed concerns about player safety.

Lomax said on Thursday he believed the incident had been somewhat blown out of proportion and he had no fear for his safety.

But he believes more measures should be in place to prevent spectators getting close enough to contact players on the field.

“Ideally you’d want security guards there that end up stopping him before it ends up getting to that point,” Lomax said.

“I’d imagine in the future that there are probably going to be a lot more security guards there at all the games.

“It’s been blown out of proportion a little bit, but I reckon they’ve got to go back and have a look at it because security has probably got to be taken up a notch.

“In regards to how I feel about it, it’s no skin off my nose.”

The NRL has had a spate of pitch invaders getting close to players in the past year, including a protester with a flare in Cronulla last year, but no players have been injured.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo reached out to Allianz Stadium officials on Wednesday and was told by Venues NSW counterpart Kerrie Mather the matter had been investigated.

Lomax is the first to admit the Dragons have more pressing issues than potential pitch invasions ahead of Sunday’s clash with Canterbury in Wollongong.

The Saints are in the bottom quarter of the ladder with the Bulldogs after three straight losses, and have scored as many or more tries than their opponents.

In another world, the Dragons and their under-fire coach Anthony Griffin could be sitting pretty with a 5-2 record.

“There are always what-ifs, but that’s in the past,” Lomax said.

“It’s definitely hard when there has been so much attention on us. That attention has probably come because of losing a couple of games.”

The club received a boost on Thursday with news that they will receive salary cap dispensation for Cody Ramsey for the rest of the 2023 campaign.

The talented fullback hasn’t played this season after he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, but the Red V will be only be allowed to sign a like-for-like replacement with the new-found cash.

Elsewhere, prop Francis Molo was suspended for two games after pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge last month.

Molo’s ban will begin in round 10, after he completes a three-game suspension for a high tackle.