Dragon Zac Lomax is still intent on leaving, skipper Ben Hunt says

Ben Hunt has spilled the beans on teammate Zac Lomax after the Dragons star had a release request denied ahead of the NRL season.

Zac Lomax (left) and Ben Hunt at Dragons training. Photo: David Swift

Dragons skipper Ben Hunt has opened up about Zac Lomax’s position at the club, conceding his teammate “does want to leave”.

St George Illawarra has started off the new season with an opening win over Gold Coast and then a heavy 38-0 loss to the Dolphins.

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New coach Shane Flanagan has been playing Lomax on the wing, rather than his preferred place in the centres, to allow Jack Bird to move into that role.

Lomax, 24, asked for a release on the eve of the season and was linked with Parramatta, but the club firmly denied the request.

Now Hunt, who has been embroiled in his own dramas over leaving the joint-venture club, has confirmed his good mate still wants an opportunity to play in his favoured spot elsewhere.

“Zac and I, we talk quite a bit. If he is unhappy, he is not really showing it to be honest,” Hunt said on Wednesday.

“I’m aware that he does want to leave but he’s not showing he’s unhappy.

Zac Lomax (left) and Ben Hunt at Dragons training. Photo: David Swift

“He’s getting around the place with energy. He seems like he’s enjoying himself to me, anyway.

“He’s playing really good footy. When he wants some advice, he knows I’m always happy to give it. He’s very open Zac and always asks for something if he needs it.”

Hunt added his opinion Lomax is playing superb footy, despite his desire to join a rival club.

“Whether he likes the position or not, he is doing a bloody good job of it,” Hunt said.

“I think he has been our best player in the last two weeks to be honest. I can’t fault either of his games.

“He definitely wasn’t the reason why we lost against the Dolphins, he had no part in that. He was one of our best up there.”

Lomax’s predicament kicked off a heated conversation on NRL 360 on Wednesday night amid talks the Dragon is facing a significant pay cut to shift clubs.

Lomax has had a strong start to the new season. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Flanagan proved last year he won’t roll over for players looking to leave when he rejected Hunt’s release request as the new coach’s first order of business after arriving at the club.

Flanagan told Lomax – who is contracted until 2026 – he won’t be playing for anyone else this year, but is open to a potential early release if it suits the Dragons.

The Eels are keen on Lomax’s services but the fact he looks set to so easily break his contract divided the NRL 360 panel.

“He asked for a release before Round 1, he got his management to say to the Dragons that Zac’s not happy being selected on the wing, he wants to be in the centres so if he’s not going to be in the centres we’d like a release,” James Hooper said.

“The opposition clubs are queued up, Parramatta are the favourites. You’re allowed to talk but not allowed to make any formal offers.”

That triggered Paul Kent who said he’d had “a gut full” of clubs ignoring the NRL’s that stop contracted players being poached.

“What’s the point of talking to him if they can’t make him an offer,” Kent said.

“It’s rugby league, Paul. What planet have you been living on? It’s how it’s rolled for years,” Hooper responded.

– with Fox Sports

Originally published as Dragon Zac Lomax is still intent on leaving, skipper Ben Hunt says