Dragons star Zac Lomax addresses controversial Tyson Frizell and Matt Dufty incidents

Zac Lomax has defended his actions following a fortnight of controversies that left former teammates Tyson Frizell and Matt Dufty fuming at the Dragons star.

Dragons star Zac Lomax. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Zac Lomax has apologised for his uncharacteristic “brain-snap” which left Tyson Frizell fuming and ignoring his former teammate after he reached out to say he was sorry.

The St George Illawarra centre and NSW hopeful has dominated headlines in recent weeks for everything but his fleet-footwork or his now trademark flick pass.

Instead it was a Fox League segment where Lomax first earnt the ire of another ex-teammate and raised questions about Lomax’s relationship with coach Anthony Griffin.

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But last Sunday Lomax frustrated the usually laconic Frizell into tossing him to the floor after Lomax taunted the Newcastle Knights forward by jumping on his back to celebrate a Dragons try.

St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hunt, who labelled the incident a “brain-snap” and Griffin spoke with Lomax last week. He was fined $1000 by the NRL.

Lomax confirmed he had reached out to Frizell but was yet to hear back.

“There was no malice in it,” Lomax said. “I didn’t get a chance to (apologise to Frizell). I had a few interviews that grabbed me.”

Zac Lomax has broken his silence after a controversial fortnight on and off the field. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Newcastle’s David Klemmer confronted Lomax after the game about the taunting in a match where Lomax kicked a game-defining field goal.

The on-field incident followed an off-field drama where Lomax was unwittingly caught up.

Canterbury fullback Matt Dufty, who left the Dragons last year, took exception to comments Lomax made when interviewed by Bryan Fletcher and Nathan Hindmarsh on Fox League.

It included Lomax declaring if he was granted three wishes from Dufty one would be “never have to speak to Dufty again”.

The segment filmed alongside teammate Blake Lawrie showed the pair imitating coach Griffin.

“I’ve spoken with Duft (Dufty),” Lomax said. “All this has been taken out of context. It depends how you (the media) want to take it. I’m good friends with Friz (Frizell). I’m good friends with Duft. Hook (Griffin) is my coach. We are all good mates. It just depends how you guys take it. It’s the way it goes.

“That’s Hook. He is a one of a kind personality. We as players love it. It was banter. There was nothing behind it. We have had a laugh about it. His wife thought it was the funniest thing she has seen. That’s what our team is like. We are a really tight-knit group.

“It’s really good to be a part of.”

Lomax has been in and around NSW selection in recent years. He was part of an extended squad in 2020 but did not feature in the series.

David Klemmer confronts Zac Lomax after the Tyson Frizell incident. Picture: NRL

This year however he is primed to make a move with injury uncertainty surrounding incumbents Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic.

Lomax said he needed to involve himself even when the ball does not come his way.

“It’s about getting into the game from the get go,” Lomax said. “The good teams do a lot of research. It’s about understanding how to go about it in different ways. Work with your halves and there are a times where you don’t get early ball and you have to work hard at the back end.”

Lomax faces the Roosters in the annual Anzac Day clash at the SCG on Monday.