The Eels are now the clear favourites to sign Dragons star Zac Lomax next year after Roosters coach Trent Robinson declared “we’ve got the centres that we want” even though current starters Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii won’t be there in 2025.
Lomax was officially granted a release from the final two years of his contract earlier this week, with the Dragons open to a player swap this season if they get a suitable star in return.
The Roosters were an obvious landing spot given they’ll have cash to splash with their two strike weapons off to rugby next year, but with Billy Smith re-signed and young gun Robert Toia tipped to debut next year, the Roosters won’t be chasing Lomax.
The Eels are in the box seat to sign Zac Lomax after Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed his club wasn’t going after the Dragons star.
“We’ve got the centres that we want,” Robinson said.
“We still need to add a couple of outside backs but not in that price change.
“We’re not (going after Lomax).”
The Lomax situation has been simmering for a while at St George Illawarra, with the club on Tuesday deciding that it was in everyone’s best interests to let him go at the end of the year.
“It’s a club decision,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said, insisting it’s nothing like the Ben Hunt situation last year when the skipper wanted to return to Queensland.
“It’s gone on for a number of months, it went on from last year. It’s a decision the club has made and Zac and ourselves will move on.
“Zac’s committed to the club, he’s playing some good football and that’s all we’re concentrating on at the moment, making sure that we win football games.
“We can’t have people that don’t want to be here.
“We’ve worked hard to turn him around, it just hasn’t happened, so we’ve got to move forward.”
Replies
There we go. Everyone relax. Roosters don't have the cap room for him.
Looking increasingly likely we will get our man.
Thanks Ron
I wonder how much we are paying? I hope plans are in place to retain Hopgood
Hopgood extended last year
ok excellent news
He is free to negotiate in November. At least should be talking about a 2 year extension now.
Ok this is good to hear. It really comes down to what is needed to get him here this year. This year is what matters.
That is what they want you to think Mutts. Could they be moving the narrative away so they can come in from under us?
Depends who or if we let someone go. Our forward pack is elite if it plays like it did against Manly. The impact Matto and JP had of the bench was enormous. Whilst our depth is strong in the forwards that's a good thing, I'd hate to weaken it with desperation signing. We also need to find someone willing to go to the drag queens. But yes Lomax definitely improves our backline and would be enormous if a good deal gets done
Maybe in a year or so, but at the moment, Matto can change a game for us. He can offload at will and really offers some X factor when needed. When Matto plays well Parra inevitably win easy in my opinion
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