The Eels appear to be the frontrunners in securing the signature of Dragons standout Zac Lomax next season. This speculation heightened after Roosters coach Trent Robinson affirmed, “we’re content with the centers we have,” despite the impending absence of current starters Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in 2025.
Lomax recently obtained a release from the final two years of his Dragons contract, prompting discussions of potential moves, including a player swap this season if the Dragons find a suitable replacement.
While the Roosters were initially considered a likely destination, their focus has shifted, with the re-signing of Billy Smith and the anticipated debut of young talent Robert Toia next season, indicating they won’t pursue Lomax.
Robinson emphasized, “We’re satisfied with our current centers,” noting that while they still need to bolster their outside backs, they won’t pursue Lomax due to budget considerations.
The situation surrounding Lomax has been ongoing at St George Illawarra, culminating in the club’s decision on Tuesday to release him at the end of the year.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan clarified that this decision differs from previous instances, like the Ben Hunt situation, emphasizing that it’s a club decision.
Flanagan stated, “Zac’s committed to the club, he’s playing some good football, and that’s our focus—winning games.” He added, “We can’t have people that don’t want to be here. We’ve tried to work with him, but it hasn’t worked out, so we need to move forward.”
Lomax is said to be earning around $800,000, freeing up funds for the Dragons to pursue other players. Names like Panthers winger Sunia Turuva and Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who currently isn’t part of the starting lineup, have been linked to the club.
“Quality players are definitely on our radar. We haven’t singled out one specific player yet,” Flanagan stated. “It’s all happened in the past week or two. We’ll evaluate the market and make the best decision for the club moving forward. We’re often linked with various players, and if someone like Nelson becomes available, we’ll assess it.”
Meanwhile, at the Roosters, Robinson clarified that although there’s no official agreement with prop forward Terrell May, they are nearing a deal as they seek to secure Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ replacement.
Contract talks aren’t a concern for the Roosters as they prepare to face the Bulldogs, featuring Drew Hutchison, who spent five seasons with the Roosters. Despite criticism of Hutchison’s performance, particularly in his partnership with Matt Burton, Robinson believes he’s a genuine halfback deserving of time to develop.
“We know Drew well, and he’s a genuine halfback,” Robinson affirmed. “He’s adaptable and has shown versatility in various positions for us. He’s running their system now, and with time, their combinations will improve.”
