‘Never seen it before in my life’: Zac Lomax denied fastest try in NRL history

A Dragons star has been denied history after he looked to have scored the fastest try in NRL history, only for the Bunker to intervene.

Zac Lomax almost made history. Photo: Fox Sports

Commentators have been left stunned after the St George Illawarra Dragons were denied the fastest try in NRL history against the New Zealand Warriors.

In front of a packed and parochial Go Media Stadium in Auckland, the Warriors won 18-6 to officially lock up a spot in the top four and a home final in week two or three of the finals.

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It is the first time New Zealand will host a final since 2008, and first time since 2007 they have finished in the top four.

But the Warriors were nearly blindsided from the kick-off after the Dragons kick-off found the ground and Zac Lomax dived over the line in the 9th second.

The fastest try in NRL history is Parramatta winger Kirisome Auva’a, who scored after 11 seconds against the Broncos in 2017.

The Dragons’ kick-off landed around the 10m line and went straight to the sideline.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak batted the bouncing ball back in and Lomax appeared to knock the ball up and score the try.

An INSANE start with the Dragons DENIED a try off the kickoff!

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“Have you ever seen this before?” Warren Smith screamed.

“Off the kick-off, Zac Lomax scores for the Dragons. There was less than 10 seconds gone. An absolutely unbelievable beginning to the game.”

Steve Roach added: “What an opening, I’ve never seen it before in my life.”

However, that was when the issues began as referee Peter Gough sent it up as “no try”, suggesting Lomax purposely batted the ball up in the air to gain an advantage.

He was ruled to have knocked the ball into Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Photo: Fox Sports

Just nine seconds in. Photo: Fox Sports

The Dragons thought they had the perfect start. Photo: Fox Sports

There were also suggestions that Watene-Zelezniak had his foot on the sideline before batting the ball back in — he didn’t.

But instead of pinging Lomax for knocking it up in the air, the bunker official ruled that Lomax had knocked the ball into Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

“As close as that to the quickest try in rugby league history at this level in this country,” Smith said.

“Isn’t it amazing, you see new things every time you watch our great game,” Roach added. “I’ve never seen that before.”

Fans were equally stunned.

What a shame.. that was freaking amazing Zac! #NRLWarriorsDragons

— Zane Bojack (@zanofc) August 25, 2023

History ruined..
Nice one bunker you buzzkill!#NRLWarriorsDragons

— Nathan Brookes (@BrookesyNat) August 25, 2023

That sent a scare over the Warriors camp they got lucky. #NRLWarriorsDragons

— Cherrykie (@CherrykieMore) August 25, 2023

Omg!! #NRLwarriorsdragons

— Rylan Dawson 🦈 (@Dawso26) August 25, 2023

While it would have been the fastest NRL try in history, the Super League has a faster try.

In 2021, Hull Kingston Rovers’ Ben Crooks scored a try after just seven seconds.

But alas, Lomax’s effort won’t go into the record books.

It was a wild opening to the game but quickly the Warriors worked their way into the match.

The home side led 10-0 at halftime but were unlucky not to be further up after Addin Fonua-Blake knocked on over the line.

The Dragons scored first in the second half through Zac Lomax in the 61st minute to make a game of it.

However, a brain explosion from Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan gifted Fonua-Blake a four-pointer in the 74th minute after he fumbled a grubber into the in-goal instead of putting it dead or grounding it.

The Warriors didn’t have it all their own way either with five-eighth Luke Metcalf seemingly suffering a hamstring injury.

Having had a hamstring injury in the pre-season which cost him the first half of the season, he was seen with tears in his eyes on the sideline.

Originally published as ‘Never seen it before in my life’: Zac Lomax denied fastest try in NRL history