NRL 2023: Dragons star Aaron Woods lifts lid on Zac Lomax, Junior Amone training scuffle

Dragons star Aaron Woods has spoken out about the training scuffle between Zac Lomax and Junior Amone, revealing how it started and why it was actually good for the team.

St George Illawarra prop Aaron Woods has lifted the lid on an ugly training bust-up at his club by claiming young star Junior Amone was “standing up for himself” and wouldn’t get “stood all over.”

After a unique cross-code training session with the NSW Waratahs at Daceyville on Monday, Woods and teammate Jack de Belin spoke about last week’s training melee between Amone and Zac Lomax.

The pair had to be separated by teammates after Amone blew up at being pushed off the mark by Lomax during a tense training session.

“They are young boys who didn’t want to let one of them get over the top of the other. They don’t want anyone to get in front of them for a spot,” Woods said.

Tempers flared between Junior Amone and Zac Lomax at St George Illawarra’s pre-season camp, as Dragons teammates stepped in to separate the pair.

“Junior Amone is taking some ownership of the team. You don’t want to see those players get stood all over. It was really good to see him stand up for himself.

“Honestly, we will always give it a crack but if people say it doesn’t mean much to us then why are blokes punching on at training?

“There was a bit of contact and they are both lippy. You want that from your halves and centres. You want them to get stuck into each other – the way you train is the way you play.

“It was blown out of (proportion). I have seen it plenty of times. The only thing different was that it was an open fan session and there were cameras there. It happened, they were a bit feisty but the boys got over it.

“Have you noticed how Lomax always pushes guys off the mark? He did that to Junior. He is a young dog coming through. He has to earn his stripes.”

De Belin added: “I was on the sidelines chatting away and missed it all, but I ran in and broke it up. It’s like a game of footy, things happen, there are distractions, but you get on with the job.

“I’ve seen it (run-ins) happen on numerous occasions, and it’s not out of the ordinary. When you’ve got boys competing hard, especially when it’s an opposed session, you’ve got guys who might go harder than others.

“We’re all passionate, we’re all good teammates, so if anything it’s a good thing.”

Woods says the scuffle highlights just how passionate his teammates are. Picture: Julian Andrews.

De Belin recalled a similar training fight with then Dragons teammate Trent Merrin.

“It was a similar thing, I had an AC sprain, I got put on it, I grabbed him by the throat, but it was just heat of the moment. You have a laugh about it afterwards,” he said.

Woods stepped forward with immense praise for Lomax’s natural ability and build.

“As an athlete, Lomax is one of the best I’ve seen and I’ve been at four clubs. Physically, running-wise, fitness-wise, he’s the best I’ve seen. In the gym, he’s up there as one of the strongest,” Woods said.

“He just has to put it out there each weekend and if he does that consistently then they will talk about him for Origin and Australia.

“Jack Wighton played centre but I personally believe Lomax could be up there if not better. He’s just got to believe in himself. He just has to be consistent, we all do at the Dragons.

The Waratahs and Dragons trained together at Daceyville on Monday. Pics by Julian Andrews.

“He’s got an ego and that big head when you walk through the door but sometimes you want that from your players but he has to use it in the right way. He reacts better when you’re straight with him.

“We senior blokes give it to him a fair bit but he’s a good kid – he respects that. When he crosses that line, give it to people, but off the field be humble. It can be a gee-up but there’s some truth behind it.

“You can pull him back a peg. But my job is to push him and get the best out of him. But if he’s firing them the Dragons are a completely different side.”

The Dragons and Waratahs engaged in some full-blown training drills before playing a 10-minute game with 13 players on the field and an additional 10 minutes with 15 players.

Woods, Lomax, de Belin, Tyrell Sloan, Jack Bird, Josh Kerr and Mikaele Ravalawa trained on Monday for St George Illawarra, as did Waratahs star Kurtley Beale.

DRAGONS STARS SEPARATED AT TRAINING AS TEMPERS FLARE

—Fatima Kdouh, Wilson Smith

The Dragons are breathing fire in the pre-season with tensions boiling over during an opposed session on a three-day camp on the NSW south coast.

A St George Illawarra fan captured the moment teammates had to separate Zac Lomax and Junior Amone during the one hour open training run.

It’s believed Lomax took exception to a forceful hit from Amone. But the youngsters quickly moved on from the incident, burying the hatchet.

That kind of passion and level of intensity at training from players during the summer will no doubt be seen as positive signs by Red V fans.

Tempers flared between Junior Amone and Zac Lomax at St George Illawarra’s pre-season camp, as Dragons teammates stepped in to separate the pair.

In April, Lomax was hit with a $1,000 fine for contrary conduct after jumping on the back of former teammate and Newcastle forward Tyson Frizell during a try celebration.

Frizell did not take too kindly to the extra attention from Lomax, sparking a melee.

The Dragons returned to their home base in Wollongong on Friday before travelling to Sydney on Monday for an opposed session with the NSW Waratahs at NSW Rugby’s shiny new $20m centre of excellence in Daceyville.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Dragons star Aaron Woods lifts lid on Zac Lomax, Junior Amone training scuffle