Zac Lomax will make his highly anticipated Super Rugby debut this weekend, almost a month to the day after his hopes of playing in the NRL this season were ended.
Lomax has been named on the bench for the Western Force ahead of Saturday’s round-eight clash against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
The 26-year-old is no stranger to Lang Park, a venue where he has never been a welcome visitor.
Lomax played for NSW in the past two State of Origin matches held at the famous ground.
He scored two tries in the Blues’ 18-6 win in the series opener last year, and kicked three crucial goals in the famous 2024 decider triumph.
His most recent match at Lang Park came in July last year, when he scored two tries as the underdog Eels upset eventual NRL premiers Brisbane.
“He’s a natural athlete — big, strong, fast, powerful,” Force head coach Simon Cron said.
“We’ve done a bit of work with him since he got here, he’s very confident that he’s ready.
“We’re in a position now where, I think, it’s a great opportunity for him to play.
“He’s coming off the bench, so it gives him a chance to work his way into the game. He’s a great player, and he’s ready to go.”
Lomax was granted a release from the Parramatta Eels at the end of last year so he could join R360, a start-up rugby union league that had to delay its launch.
The terms of Lomax’s release did not allow him to play for another NRL team before the 2028 season unless the Eels accepted compensation from a rival club to sign him.
The Melbourne Storm tried to sign Lomax but the Eels rejected the compensation offered, which led to a battle in the courts.
The Storm and Eels settled their dispute out of court at the start of March, with Melbourne ending their pursuit of Lomax and leaving him without a rugby league contract.
Lomax decided to switch codes and joined the Force, with the appeal of being available for Wallaby selection with the Rugby World Cup held in Australia next year.
The Force have just one win from their six matches in 2026, but that does not tell the full story.
Only one of their five losses was by more than 10 points, with the Perth-based franchise showing they can test the competition’s top sides.
The Reds sit fourth on the Super Ruby Pacific ladder, with four wins from six matches played.
After enjoying a four-match winning streak, which included a maiden win in Fiji and a rare triumph in Canberra, the Reds came back down to Earth last weekend with a 52-14 defeat to the ladder-leading Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Reds and Force will play on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 7:35pm AEDT. The NSW Waratahs are playing in New Zealand against the Chiefs on Saturday afternoon, while the ACT Brumbies have a bye.
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