Sean Maloney: Cautionary code-hopping tales that put the blowtorch under Zac Lomax's rugby switch
Zac Lomax, the sparkling new Western Force signing, has ignited chat across both league and union worlds this week.
NRL types continue to blow up deluxe over the move while union lovers are thrilled he's decided to have a crack at the 15-man game.
Lomax is a big name in rugby league and the bloke can certainly play. He's a Kangaroo, a State of Origin star and has well over 100 NRL games to his name.
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Zac Lomax chats to Stan Sport's Michael Atkinson. Stan
There's plenty of the former Dragon and Eels centre/wing too.
At 190cm and 105kg, he's an enormous unit out wide who's gifted in the air and can also kick beautifully from the tee as well.
Can he make an impact in union though? Is the runway to the 2027 Rugby World Cup here in Australia long enough? Can the Force unlock his potential?
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I'm really pulling for yes, yes, yes, however, the transition has not been easy for classy NRL stars of the past.
The 'Big Four' of Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Israel Folau are the absolute exception.
They all excelled and generated enormous publicity off the field as well.
Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri talk tactics under the watch of Eddie Jones in 2003. Getty
Sailor spun turnstiles, Tuqiri was box office while Rogers and Folau are regarded by those who played with them as being a true cut above.
What of the others though? Here's a look back across the last 20 years at some of those who played a minimum of 50 NRL games then made the switch to Super Rugby.
We've kept it to those who've hung up their boots as well.
TIMANA TAHU
Good god could this bloke play rugby league.
His right side combination with Matt Gidley at the Newcastle Knights and NSW was almost impossible to stop.
He made the switch to the Waratahs in 2008-09 where he made a Super Rugby final before playing a handful of Tests with the Wallabies.
Unfortunately ran into a red-hot Springboks team in his second Test where Australia went down 53-8.
Timana Tahu during the 2008 Tri-Nations at Ellis Park. Getty
BENJI MARSHALL
A Wests Tigers and New Zealand legend, Marshall had a dip at union back in 2014 where, by his own admission, he was 'average.'
The brilliant playmaker had initially declared his desire to play for the All Blacks however he only lasted eight games with the Blues in Auckland.
Benji Marshall of the Blues runs the ball at Canberra Stadium. Getty
JARROD SAFFY
A foundation player with the Melbourne Rebels, Saffy - who'd played with the Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons - was a very handy signing for the start-up franchise.
Established himself as a regular starter in the backrow and turned in a number of quality performances with the Rebels.
Jarrod Saffy of the Rebels makes a break at AAMI Park. Getty
LUKE ROONEY
You can't have Saffy without Rooney who was another NRL convert to the Rebels.
Rooney played an incredible 140 games with the Penrith Panthers, won a comp and then made the switch to Melbourne.
A towering winger, Rooney played just one season with the Rebels in their inaugural year before joining the star-studded French club Toulon in 2011.
Luke Rooney of the Rebels is tackled at AAMI Park. Getty
RYAN CROSS
Cross was a schoolboy rugby star of some note who became a Sydney Roosters legend.
After collecting a premiership and 143 games with the Tri-colours, Cross went west to the Force in 2007. There he was crowned their player of the year before catching Wallabies coach Robbie Deans' eye.
Cross went on to play 19 times for the Wallabies which included a huge 37-19 win over the All Blacks in 2008.
The centre then made the jump back to the SFS where he played with the Waratahs in 2011. One of the better performed converts of the last two decades.
Ryan Cross of Australia is tackled by Jonny Wilkinson of England. Getty
KARMICHAEL HUNT
Athletically and sporting IQ wise, this guy might be one of the best we've seen. Only he and Folau have played AFL, NRL and Test rugby for Australia.
It's a feat not likely to ever be repeated. Hunt was a Maroons Origin and Broncos hero for years before making the move to AFL with the Gold Coast Suns. From there it was off to the Reds and onto the Wallabies.
He played six Tests in 2017 however off-field issues the following year curtailed his time at Ballymore.
Hunt eventually popped up at the Waratahs where he spent a couple of seasons.
Karmichael Hunt of the Suns handballs while tackled by James Polkinghorne of the Lions. Getty
CLINTON SCHIFCOFSKE
The Queenslander made his NRL debut in 1996 with the Crushers and played his last in 2006 after a memorable career with the Canberra Raiders.
From there it was off to the Reds where he spent two seasons.
Schifcofske turned in a few outstanding performances in Super Rugby but unfortunately for union fans they were all toward the back end of his playing career.
Could've potentially matched the heroics of Rogers and Co if he came across earlier. He is now Lomax's manager.
Clinton Schifcofske of the Reds is chased in goal by Tom Carter of the Waratahs. Getty
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS
Long retired now, Williams quickly became a legendary convert.
He claimed back-to-back Super titles with the Chiefs, won two World Cups and established himself as one of the games truly global megastars.
Still unable to walk the streets of Paris without being mobbed.
Sonny Bill Williams of New Zealand gives his winning medal to young fan Charlie Lines. Getty
BRAD THORN
One of the most highly-regarded converts by anyone lucky enough to play alongside him or unfortunate enough to play against him.
Thorn became a standard setter of such high regard he eventually coached Super Rugby with the Reds.
Won a Super title with the Crusaders, claimed a home World Cup with the All Blacks and generally terrified anyone who crossed his path on the field.
Australia's Quade Cooper and New Zealand's Brad Thorn grab each other by the throat at Eden Park. Getty
COOPER VUNA
Another of the Rebels pick-ups from the NRL and a good player at that.
Previously with the Newcastle Knights, Vuna joined Melbourne for three seasons where he scored 13 tries as a dangerous outside back.
Remarkably, the wheels came off Vuna's career in rugby following an altercation with team-mate Kurtley Beale after a record loss to the Sharks in South Africa.
Vuna played two Tests with the Wallabies which potentially could've been a whole lot more.
Cooper Vuna during a Test between the Wallabies and Wales at Etihad Stadium. Getty
Lomax will be available for selection for the Force in a fortnight following their Friday night game against the Hurricanes and next week's bye.
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