Fijian debut in play after Force’s Lomax anti-climax
Murray Wenzel |
Zac Lomax’s latest setback has paved the way for a “hell of an introduction” in Fiji for the injury-hit Western Force.
The NRL convert was set to make his professional rugby debut against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday, barely a month after his attempt to suit up for the Melbourne Storm was shot down following court proceedings.
Force coach Simon Cron made the call on Thursday night after the Kangaroos and NSW State of Origin winger had only hit “80 per cent” maximum speed at training.
“Sorry about that,” Cron said of the Lomax anti-climax after his side’s season-reviving 42-19 bonus-point upset win over the Reds.
“Maybe a little strain … because he’s a power athlete. If we put him away down an edge, he’s going to sprint and it’s too high of a risk (so) I pulled him.”
Lomax walked from his lucrative Parramatta Eels contract with the intention of joining R360, only for the rebel league to delay its first season.
His subsequent bid to join the Melbourne Storm ended in an out-of-court settlement ahead of a potential NSW Supreme Court hearing last month before he signed with Rugby Australia on a two-year deal.
The Force will remain in Brisbane before flying to Fiji to play the Drua in Lautoka on Saturday.
Cron may not have a choice but to select Lomax, given that both starting wingers Dylan Pietsch (foot) and Darby Lancaster (ankle) failed to finish.
“It’s still in play,” Cron said of Lomax’s potential debut on one of the competition’s toughest trips.
“It’d be a hell of an introduction for him. The Drua … big powerful, strong. So is he, but it’d be a baptism.”
With Lomax watching on, the Force put aside a frustrating month of near misses, moving to 2-5 in a season that’s already featured four losses by 10 points or less.
It was their first win in Brisbane since 2017, their second win from their last 13 games and their third from their last 25 away games.
And it came without Wallabies Jeremy Williams and Carlo Tizzano, while prop Tom Robertson was concussed in the 13th minute.
“It just keeps that fire going inside us,” stand-in captain Nick Champion de Crespigny said.
“We’ve got that belief where we want to go.”
It was the Reds’ second-straight loss – after a four-game winning streak – ahead of a tough stretch of games against the Crusaders, Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs.
“We’ll come back in Monday and have a look at … what we need to get back to,” Captain Fraser McReight said.
“We’ve got some tough games coming up.
“There’s no lack of faith whatsoever; the squad is in a good spot and I feel we just need to restart that engine.”
AAP