‘I’ve never said’: Zac Lomax sets record straight over wing drama

Blues star Zac Lomax has come clean on his stance on playing on the wing in 2024, raising eyebrows about his exit from the Dragons.

Zac Lomax has opened up on the move. Photo: Getty Images

St George Illawarra Dragons winger Zac Lomax insisted he “never said” he didn’t want to play on the wing, raising a few questions about his exit from the club.

Lomax will join the Eels in 2025 on a four-year deal after Dragons coach Shane Flanagan moved him onto the wing from the centres.

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Lomax has spent most of his career in the centres but his move to the outside backs has proven a masterstroke, with the 24-year-old becoming one of the best in the game.

It earned him a place in the NSW Origin side, where he is preparing for the decider, having played both matches in the series so far.

Not only that, Lomax has thrived, catching a bomb at the MCG for a spectacular try in Game 2 from future Eels teammate Mitchell Moses.

But with reports stating Lomax was coveting a position in the centres and was bristling against playing on the edge for the Dragons, plenty of questions have been asked about which position the star would fill for the Eels.

Speaking to Nine News on Friday, Lomax cleared the air on the call

“The funny thing is, I’ve never said that I’m not a winger,” he said. “I’ve never said that I don’t want to play wing. I’ve never once said that.

“I love playing footy wherever that is and that’s what I’ve always said. I’m happy to play whatever position I can play — and I’ve always said that.

“I just want to be the best teammate that I can for my team.”

Zac Lomax has set the record straight. Photo: Channel 9

Another question following Lomax has been the potential for a backflip with the Eels sitting last on the NRL ladder, while the Dragons are currently 10th but well in the hunt for the top eight.

“No, I’ve signed a deal at Parramatta for four years,” he said.

It comes as Flanagan’s decision to move Lomax to the wing proved to be a masterstroke, with the mentor taking credit for the move.

But he also suggested Lomax was unhappy about the positional shift.

“I knew his skillset suited playing on the wing,” Flanagan said.

“To try and convince Zac he was a winger at the start, well it wasn’t going to happen. It didn’t happen. We saw what happened there but if we had that conversation now, it’d be a lot easier. A lot, lot easier.

“Time heals a lot of wounds and that one there has definitely proven the coach’s point.

“All the credit needs to go to Zac. He was the one that didn’t want to play there but he bit down on his mouthguard and played really well so I didn’t have to force him to play. He just went out and did it.

“He’s the one that’s gone out week to week and executed and put himself in a position to play well.”

Hang this pic in the Louvre! Pic: Michael Klein

Lomax has been on fire in 2024. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Despite his excellent early season form, Lomax agitated and was given a release at the end of the season, taking a reported $200,000 pay cut to join the Eels.

Lomax has refused to discuss the move, calling it “disrespectful on my behalf to be talking about what’s going to happen next year” if he’d opened up on it.

However, he did suggest he’d be “more than comfortable to talk about the decision next year when the time is right”.

Lomax’s latest comments will make his remarks when he eventually does break his silence on the switch all the more interesting.