'Elite' Zac Lomax wows Western Force coach as Super Rugby debut nears
Updated . First published at
Zac Lomax is poised to make his professional rugby debut in either Brisbane or Lautoka in April after impressing Western Force coach Simon Cron at training.
The former NRL star hasn't played rugby since he was 15 but after a messy contract saga he decided to switch codes in a bid to represent the Wallabies at next year's home World Cup.
The 26-year-old was not picked for Saturday night's Super Rugby Pacific home game against the Chiefs in Perth but he won't be kept on the leash for much longer.
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Zac Lomax warms up. Stan
"He's a good chance in the next couple of weeks of getting game time," Cron said.
"Even this morning, we had him training with our boys who aren't playing. I think it's just about him getting confident and then us getting him in a position where ideally we're not going to injure him."
The Force go on the road after hosting the Chiefs, taking on the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on April 4 and the Fijian Drua at Churchill Park on April 11.
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Lomax is likely to get his first run on the wing, probably off the bench. Darby Lancaster and Bayley Kuenzle are the starting Force wingers in round seven.
At 190cm and 105kg, Lomax has a similar physical profile to another code-hopper, Mark Nawaqanitawase.
"He's still learning, but he's an amazing athlete," Cron said.
"His footwork at the line and his strength in contact is elite.
"I think any rugby league player who moves across to union, the biggest thing (to master) is going to be post-tackle. In rugby league, it stops and you get to start again.
"Post-tackle in rugby, she's a green light."
