Zac Lomax and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii don’t expect to be trading shots too often on Friday night, when the Waratahs take on the Western Force at Allianz Stadium. Or not that they’ll freely admit, at least.
But trading pot-shots? That’s a different story.
The former NRL foes came together in Sydney’s east on Thursday to promote their teams’ Super Rugby Pacific clash, and within minutes of arriving the one-time State of Origin teammates – and good friends – fell into old routines.
“The big fella is here somewhere – he rocked up in his Rolls Royce,” Lomax joked. “I don’t know where he’s at, but he’s late. Surprise, surprise, surprise.”
Suaalii grinned when informed of the Lomax gibe.
“I was asking where he’s living [in WA]. He said he’s living at Twiggy’s [Forrest] house. Apparently it’s a big mansion in Perth, so he’s going good,” Suaalii said.
Just a few weeks into his new life as a professional rugby player in Perth, Lomax will find himself back in the familiar surrounds of Moore Park on Friday, where he routinely played as both a Dragon and an Eel.
Suaalii also used to call Allianz Stadium home turf as a Rooster, and rugby officials have leaned into their profile in the 13-man game to market the clash. Like Prince Harry and Meghan in the Tahs’ last game, social media posts and ticket offers have been framed around a showdown between the 2024 Origin teammates.
Getting the pair together in Double Bay for a photo on match eve proved almost as tricky as pinning down royalty – and required an encouraging nudge from on high at Rugby Australia – but it was all smiles and sledges when Lomax and Suaalii finally caught up.
“‘Su’ is a good mate of mine,” Lomax said. “Obviously, it’s been super unfortunate for him to miss as many games as he has. We want our best player as part of the game. I’m sure he’s super keen to get back on the field. It’s good for the Waratahs, good for the game, good for Rugby Australia.”
The clash has been billed as a battle of the code-hoppers, and while the pair play will start in different positions, the marketing hype may actually be based in enticing reality.
Suaalii will return from a long hamstring injury layoff in the Tahs No.13, and Lomax will start on the right wing. But as the last man in defence, Lomax will often be tasked with pressing in on Suaalii, and in attack, Force coach Simon Cron said on Wednesday he may deploy the new recruit at outside centre.
“If I need to [tackle him], absolutely,” Lomax said when asked if he was ready to butt heads with Suaalii. “But hopefully we don’t have to tackle each other. That’s the plan. I’m not too sure where he’s going to be, and vice versa. But it’s going to be a good test for both of us.”
Suaalii was equally coy. “I’m not sure if we’ll collide, to be fair,” he said. “I’m not sure if it’ll happen. It’s a game of 23 people against 23 of them. Everyone’s trying to make it a one v one, but there’s 23 people.”
Like Suaalii, who played his first game back in rugby in 2024 in a Test match win against England, Lomax has looked surprisingly comfortable in his early games in the 15-man game.
After debuting off the bench in Fiji, the Kangaroos wing turned in an assured starting performance in his second game, and helped the Force beat the Crusaders with a try, an assist and strength in the air.
Lomax credited teammates Kurtley Beale and Ben Donaldson, along with the coaching staff, in helping him get up to speed.
“It’s absolutely a different change. There’s a lot more things going on and things that aren’t familiar to me,” Lomax said. “My role in rugby league was obviously pretty simple. It was just carting the ball forward the best I can. But for me over here, it’s understanding the game. I haven’t played the game since I was 13.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you I was going to come over and expect everything to come easy to me. The thing that I just hold confidence in is that I’m going to come over here and work as hard as I possibly can. And that’s all I worry about.
“Everything that I’ve brought from rugby league, I make sure that I go out and I play the same game. I compete on everything. The rest comes off the back of that.”
Suaalii said he had only watched Lomax’s highlights but wasn’t surprised to see him make a smooth transition.
“Everyone knows that Zac’s a great athlete,” Suaalii said. “His aerial skill is very good. He’s good with the ball in his hands. It’s good to see him come across and flourishing in the game.”
Asked if he would be happy to give Lomax some advice after the Tahs-Force game on Friday night, Suaalii said: “Once you put a footy in his hand, he can play. He doesn’t really need any tips from me.“
Advice will have to wait for a few more weeks, in any case. Due to a scheduling quirk, the Tahs and the Force will again meet in Perth in a few weeks. Consider this round one.
Watch every match of Super Rugby Pacific live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.