Wallabies five-eighth contender Carter Gordon has seen enough of Zac Lomax to suggest the NRL convert will make an impact in the 15-man code, but says his success will be determined by his own desire.
Lomax will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut against Gordon’s Queensland Reds on Saturday night, when he comes off the bench for the Western Force, having made the jump from rugby league in early March.
Gordon made his own brief foray into the NRL after the demise of his former Super Rugby club, the Melbourne Rebels, managing just one game for the Gold Coast Titans after a serious spinal fluid leak threatened his career.
While he never played against Lomax, he saw up close the traits he brought to the field – namely, his strong ball carries and aerial presence.
Gordon refused to tease whether the Reds would seek to deprive Lomax of possession or pepper him to keep the pressure on at Suncorp Stadium, but said the only thing that would prevent the 26-year-old from thriving would be himself.
“I guess it’s going to be a working process for him now how quickly he can pick up the game – it’s going to be determined on how hard he works on it. I think that’s on him,” Gordon said.
“League’s quite a brutal game, so I wouldn’t say the contact level is too crazy different. Lomax is quite a big body, so he’ll definitely be up for it.
“He’s a great player, you’ve seen what he’s done in the NRL and what he’s done in Origin, so it’s going to be exciting to see him out there.”
Saturday night will mark the start of a new chapter for Lomax, who drew scrutiny throughout his legal battle with the Parramatta Eels in his bid to seek a release from his contract to join the Melbourne Storm.
Reds coach Les Kiss, who takes the Wallabies’ reins mid-year and himself starred as a rugby league winger during his own playing career, hinted it would take time for Lomax to find his feet.
“There’s a lot of attention around him for sure. He was a quality player in league. I’m sure he’s going to have his good moments, it just takes a long time to learn the nuances of the game around the ruck and the backfield,” Kiss said.
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to use the high ball and chase because that was one of his key strengths for sure. They’ve got good coaches there at the Force, and I think that’s going to be critical for him to learn the game from the ground up.
“He’s quite studious himself, he’s been watching a lot of games. It doesn’t come easy, but you’ve just got to stick at it.”
While Kiss’ Wallabies hat may be on in some respect watching Lomax’s first union strides, his eyes will be more fixed on another winger who he is determined to keep within Australian rugby.
Young flyer Treyvon Pritchard will earn his starting debut for the Reds, having shown glimpses of the speed and agility off the bench that landed him on the rugby league radar as a teenager before swapping codes.
The 19-year-old made his debut in Queensland’s shock win against the Brumbies in Canberra, running for 50 metres, with two tackle busts, and is signed on a development deal through to the end of 2027.
Kiss confirmed he was convinced Pritchard would play Super Rugby this season upon locking in that contract, but suggested the club would seek to secure his services long term.
“He attacks the moments, he’s hard to handle, he’s hard to tackle, and we haven’t seen it yet, but he has an unbelievable kicking game as well – 60 to 70 metres on the fly,” Kiss said.
“His disposition is really cool – he’s really calm, he looks you in the eye, he’s very assured, but he has an open mind and a growth mindset. He won’t die wondering, he wants to find out how he can perform at this level.
“He’s a very talented young man. He’s committed to us for now, and we’ll need to be in front of the curb with anything in terms of his future for sure, but for now, he’s really happy with what he’s doing.
“He doesn’t let those things distract him either, his head is screwed on, and he’s focused on what he has to do this weekend.”
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