Fullback Zac Lomax shines as Dragons down Knights 38-12
St George Illawarra has been rocked by a horror injury toll this pre-season but Paul McGregor’s side bounced back in style — and one player had his fingerprints all over a thumping win.
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New St George Illawarra fullback and Supercoach favourite Zac Lomax stole the show in Saturday’s trial match against the Newcastle Knights in Maitland.
Lomax had his fingerprints all over the Dragons’ 38-12 win.
The former centre will be given first crack at the Red V fullback spot in 2020.
Lomax took some time to warm into the game but he eventually found his groove. He threw a short cut-out pass for winger Mikaele Ravalawa to score down the right edge, but the confident back was only just getting started. He was then heavily involved in the Dragons’ next two tries, helping take his side to 24-6 on the scoreboard.
The sharp shooter was on point with the boot as well — landing four conversions from five attempts.
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WING BATTLE
Dragons coach Paul McGregor could be set for a selection headache out on the edges with Ravawala, Jordan Pereira, Tristan Sailor and Jason Saab all in contention for a wing spot in season 2020. Pereira pressed his claim with a four-try haul, while Ravawala put in a powerful performance in the first half.
HOOKERS
Knights recruit Jayden Brailey took a page out of his brother and fellow hooker Blayke’s playbook. Known for his sturdy work from dummy half and as more of a distributor, Brailey broke from tradition and probed the Dragons line with an uncharacteristic run from dummy half, which almost broke the defence. His willingness to run the ball from the ruck might be an insight into how new coach Adam O’Brien is intending to use Brailey in season 2020.
For the Dragons, a knee injury to skipper Cameron McInnes has opened up an opportunity for the likes of Billy Brittain and Joe Lovodua to partner Issac Luke in Paul McGregor’s hooking rotation while McInnes is sidelined.
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FULLBACK AUDITION
Kalyn Ponga has a stronghold on Newcastle’s fullback spot but his understudy Tex Hoy showed plenty of potential. Hoy was electric in the Knights’ Nines campaign earlier this month but had a shaky start on Saturday night, knocking the ball on cold in the opening minutes of the match. But he moved on from the error quickly and the speed machine proved to be elusive and troublesome for the Dragons defence in the first half.
KNIGHTS DEFENCE
Newcastle opened the match with plenty of intent in defence and did a good job of keeping the Dragons in their own half during the opening exchanges. Then when the Dragons mounted their first real attacking raid, the Knights’ line was up to the task — first disarming a break down the right edge then down the middle in the following play. But any sting in their defence disappeared after the break as coach O’Brien made wholesale changes. The Dragons ran in six tries in the second half.
Originally published as Fullback Zac Lomax shines as Dragons down Knights 38-12