Reds captain Fraser McReight says Queensland intends to “exploit” former NRL star Zac Lomax’s lack of rugby union nous in Saturday night’s battle with Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.
After switching codes to join the Force, former Parramatta Eels winger Lomax is set to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench this weekend against the Reds.
While conceding that Lomax was an “unbelievable talent”, Wallabies star McReight said the Reds had plans for the ex-NSW State of Origin representative.
“He’s super good with the high ball, powerful, strong, athletic … he’s going to be a dangerous man,” McReight said.
“We hope that we can exploit his (lack of) knowledge of the game, especially if he’s coming on in the back three, hopefully being able to pin him in a corner, or using our kicking game to help us out.
“I’m really excited to see how he goes, and looking forward to that battle.”
The Reds are seeking redemption after last Saturday’s 52-14 loss to the Hurricanes, who denied the Queenslanders a fifth successive win.
“(The Force) are tough, they’re gritty. they go the whole 80 minutes, so for us we’re really excited to play our style of football again, especially after the performance we had against the Hurricanes, which wasn’t up to our standards,” McReight said.
The Reds’ cause will be helped by the return of Wallabies flyhalf Carter Gordon, who has missed Queensland past two games.
“Carter’s form sort of speaks for itself,” McReight said in reflecting on Gordon’s early-season heroics.
Gordon’s return has led to Harry McLaughlin-Phillips dropping back to the bench.
“(McLaughlin-Phillips) has done a fantastic job … and he’ll get a chance again this week to finish the game,” McReight said.
“He’s got a really specific and important role for us. Those last 20 minutes against the Force in those two games last year were kind of where the money was won (by the Reds).
“We’re going to need the bench to step up this weekend. For us to get the result, the bench has got be on.”
The Force will be desperate for a win, having lost five of their six games this season.
Force coach Simon Kron said: “We’ve just got to nail down those key moments in the game and the boys have been working on that.
“It’s been impressive to watch. We’ve just got to go out and do it on the field.”
