NRL 2024: Dragons win 30-12 over Warriors as Zac Lomax presses claim for NSW Blues Origin debut

Just days after signing a deal with a rival club, Zac Lomax has produced a near perfect performance for the Dragons, as they stunned the Warriors to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in almost two years.

Zac Lomax was a standout for the Dragons, as they stunned the Warriors in Round 7. Picture: NRL Imagery

Ben Hunt bombed, Zac Lomax chased, and Marcelo Montoya planted his feet on the ground – perhaps he wasn’t watching television last Sunday.

Because when noted leaper Lomax flew, caught the ball and ran over to score the game-breaking try on Friday night at WIN Stadium, Dragons fans roared again as their team upset New Zealand Warriors.

After terrorising Wests Tigers with four bomb takes last Sunday, Lomax did the same to the Warriors in a storming game 100.

Back at right centre, Lomax ran for 176 metres and set off on 57 post-contact metres that would have impressed NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire with 46 days until Origin game one.

Lomax also landed four goals and a two-point field goal that saw his team lead 16-6 at the break.

Zac Lomax was a standout for the Dragons, as they stunned the Warriors in Round 7. Picture: NRL Imagery

DRAGONS COMPLETE

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said Lomax “comes up with big plays in big moments.”

“In Origin that’s what you need. He’s got the temperament for it, too.

“It’ll take a good centre or winger to keep him out,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan said it was his team’s “most complete performance of the year”. Hunt declared it the team’s “best win of the year”.

The Dragons completed at 85 per cent, defused 91 per cent of kicks and tackled with 87 per cent effectiveness.

The Warriors exposed the Dragons early in the first half, but it quickly fell apart as the Dragons found their defensive resolve. Picture: Getty Images

DRAGONS BOMBARDED

It was a first half of two halves in front of 13,111 fans in Wollongong.

After 20 minutes the Warriors had been tackled 30 times in the Dragons’ half while St George Illawarra had been tackled once in their opponent’s territory.

With all the ball and field position, the Warriors went at the Dragons’ left edge and came up trumps when Johnson sliced through in the 13th minute.

The Warriors came again but the Dragons withstood the bombardment. And in their first foray into the Warriors 20-metre zone, Hunt popped a short ball for Moses Suli who stormed over to score.

When Montoya dropped a ball on tackle one, powerful Fijian winger Mikaele Ravalawa cross for his first try of 2024 – by running through Montoya.

Penalties and set restarts followed in the Dragons’ favour before Hunt bustled through and reached out to score.

The Dragons produced one of their best performances of the year, impressive in both attack and defence. Picture: Getty Images

WAH WAHS

Outside of the first 20 minutes’ dominance, the Warriors looked like the enigmatic squad of seasons past.

Their issues were in stark relief when Johnson’s mistimed chip kick lobbed straight into Hunt’s arms before the halfback fed Tyrell Sloan who bolted 90 metres in his elegant style for try number seven of 2024, the eastern hill crowd roaring him home.

“We completely lost the ruck; they blew us away. They ran so hard,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster said. “On the back of some poor discipline we lost our way defensively. Their momentum was so fierce.”

It was in the first minute after halftime that Lomax leapt and scored.

“My problem was, it was a great kick and a great contest but they got an opportunity to put in an attacking kick. They’d rolled us down the field.

“Lomax, we knew he’s a threat in the air.

“We spoke about it all week,” Webster said.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Dragons win 30-12 over Warriors as Zac Lomax presses claim for NSW Blues Origin debut