‘That's not even in my thought process': Jason Ryles in no mood to rush Zac Lomax back as Eels take priority over the Blues
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles says star outside back Zac Lomax is on track to return next week and that the club has had to hold him back at training to ensure he doesn't rush his rehab in a bid to stake his claim for an Origin spot.
Lomax sustained a minor fracture to his foot during an epic win over his former side where he nailed a field goal in golden point to sink the Dragons.
There were hopes he'd be back for Thursday's game against the Dolphins, but instead he's set to return for Parramatta's game in Newcastle next Friday.
Lomax trained well last week which sparked suggestions he could make an early return, but Ryles said the club had taken a more cautious approach as it did with halfback Mitchell Moses who has also battled a foot issue this year.
'He's really good. We're probably having to hold him back a little bit,' the rookie coach said.
'He's aiming for next week, but we'll just have to wait and see. We'll see how he goes from day to day.
'He was a bit like Mitchell when he had his foot injury. It's making sure that they don't go too quickly in their rehab process.
'We have to make sure they tick all the boxes along the way before they get back to training with us.'
Next week's game will be the only one Lomax plays before the Blues squad for the State of Origin opener is announced, with the workhorse winger in the mix to keep his spot after an excellent debut campaign in 2024.
Lomax's lack of game time could hurt, with Jacob Kiraz and Tom Trbojevic also fighting for the right wing spot.
Rushing his star recruit back early just to enhance his Origin credentials never crossed Ryles' mind, with the former NSW enforcer backing his players to be picked if they perform well for the club.
'That's not even in my thought process,' he said.
'In my thought process is how we play every week here. Having experienced it myself, if you get your footy right here, then Origin looks after itself.
'First and foremost, we'll get our footy right. If whoever does happen to get selected, then that's a bonus.'
The Eels have recovered from a horror start to the season, with Moses' return fixing their attack and making everyone around him play better.
Moses is likely to be picked in the halves for game one given what he did last year, but Ryles didn't want to buy into what number the rep star would have on his back.
'If I was picking the Parramatta team, he'd be my seven,' he said.
'I think there's enough pressure and commentary on the Origin stuff. I've been in it as a player and have watched on from the outside.
'We're aware of the influence Mitch has on our footy team.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
16 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'It's personal': Maroons enforcer will rip into Haas
NSW wrecking ball Payne Haas beware, because Queensland prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has vowed to "take it personal" in Perth and fire up the underperforming Maroons pack. The Maroons have been baited by NSW forward Angus Crichton, who said the Queenslanders had been told not to kick off to Haas or Blues bench enforcer Spencer Leniu. Leniu called the Maroons "pussies" for not kicking to him in game one of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, won 18-6 by NSW, but Fa'asuamaleaui said he would "not take a backward step" against Leniu. Fa'asuamaleaui was not happy with his start in Brisbane, where his ill-discipline gave away an early penalty. The Gold Coast skipper has wrangled with Haas since they had a classic Origin confrontation in game two of 2020 when both were sin-binned after throwing punches at each other. Fa'asuamaleaui isn't interested in replicating that set-to, but in 2020 he announced himself as a dominant Origin force and outplayed Haas in the Maroons' 2-1 series win. Series wins over a Haas-led NSW pack in 2022 and 2023 followed. Haas was man of the match in Brisbane, and now it is Fa'asuamaleaui's turn to lead the Maroons to victory and save the series. The Maroons were slammed for being out-muscled and ill-disciplined in game one and must find a balance. "I take it personal, every game I play," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Every time I put that Queensland jersey on, it means so much to me. "There were obviously a lot of emotions that first game, but any game I get to put this jersey on, I take it personal and hopefully I can do a job for my teammates. "I think we have just got to be smart. We've got to treat the ball like gold and make sure that we don't hand it over and give silly opportunities, but the fire's there definitely. "There's a lot of little discipline things that we did (wrong in game one) and we've identified that." The 25-year-old prop brushed aside claims the Maroons were too scared of Leniu to kick to him. "We'll find out our game plan this week," he said. "Whoever's in front of us, we're not taking a backward step and we're excited to play." Fa'asuamaleaui played 12 Origin games in a row and won three series out of four until an ACL tear rubbed him out of last year's 2-1 loss to the Blues. His joy at being back for game one spilled over when there were tears during the anthems in Brisbane. "Putting that Queensland jersey on after watching it as a fan last year, then obviously finding my way back in the team this year ... all the emotions came out," he said. Big Tino must get down to business and channel his emotions in Perth after coach Billy Slater conducted a brutal review of game one on Monday night in camp. "We've had a real honest conversation between players and coaches about what we need to do," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I'm excited to get into training, practise good habits and find our (best) game." NSW wrecking ball Payne Haas beware, because Queensland prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has vowed to "take it personal" in Perth and fire up the underperforming Maroons pack. The Maroons have been baited by NSW forward Angus Crichton, who said the Queenslanders had been told not to kick off to Haas or Blues bench enforcer Spencer Leniu. Leniu called the Maroons "pussies" for not kicking to him in game one of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, won 18-6 by NSW, but Fa'asuamaleaui said he would "not take a backward step" against Leniu. Fa'asuamaleaui was not happy with his start in Brisbane, where his ill-discipline gave away an early penalty. The Gold Coast skipper has wrangled with Haas since they had a classic Origin confrontation in game two of 2020 when both were sin-binned after throwing punches at each other. Fa'asuamaleaui isn't interested in replicating that set-to, but in 2020 he announced himself as a dominant Origin force and outplayed Haas in the Maroons' 2-1 series win. Series wins over a Haas-led NSW pack in 2022 and 2023 followed. Haas was man of the match in Brisbane, and now it is Fa'asuamaleaui's turn to lead the Maroons to victory and save the series. The Maroons were slammed for being out-muscled and ill-disciplined in game one and must find a balance. "I take it personal, every game I play," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Every time I put that Queensland jersey on, it means so much to me. "There were obviously a lot of emotions that first game, but any game I get to put this jersey on, I take it personal and hopefully I can do a job for my teammates. "I think we have just got to be smart. We've got to treat the ball like gold and make sure that we don't hand it over and give silly opportunities, but the fire's there definitely. "There's a lot of little discipline things that we did (wrong in game one) and we've identified that." The 25-year-old prop brushed aside claims the Maroons were too scared of Leniu to kick to him. "We'll find out our game plan this week," he said. "Whoever's in front of us, we're not taking a backward step and we're excited to play." Fa'asuamaleaui played 12 Origin games in a row and won three series out of four until an ACL tear rubbed him out of last year's 2-1 loss to the Blues. His joy at being back for game one spilled over when there were tears during the anthems in Brisbane. "Putting that Queensland jersey on after watching it as a fan last year, then obviously finding my way back in the team this year ... all the emotions came out," he said. Big Tino must get down to business and channel his emotions in Perth after coach Billy Slater conducted a brutal review of game one on Monday night in camp. "We've had a real honest conversation between players and coaches about what we need to do," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I'm excited to get into training, practise good habits and find our (best) game." NSW wrecking ball Payne Haas beware, because Queensland prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has vowed to "take it personal" in Perth and fire up the underperforming Maroons pack. The Maroons have been baited by NSW forward Angus Crichton, who said the Queenslanders had been told not to kick off to Haas or Blues bench enforcer Spencer Leniu. Leniu called the Maroons "pussies" for not kicking to him in game one of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, won 18-6 by NSW, but Fa'asuamaleaui said he would "not take a backward step" against Leniu. Fa'asuamaleaui was not happy with his start in Brisbane, where his ill-discipline gave away an early penalty. The Gold Coast skipper has wrangled with Haas since they had a classic Origin confrontation in game two of 2020 when both were sin-binned after throwing punches at each other. Fa'asuamaleaui isn't interested in replicating that set-to, but in 2020 he announced himself as a dominant Origin force and outplayed Haas in the Maroons' 2-1 series win. Series wins over a Haas-led NSW pack in 2022 and 2023 followed. Haas was man of the match in Brisbane, and now it is Fa'asuamaleaui's turn to lead the Maroons to victory and save the series. The Maroons were slammed for being out-muscled and ill-disciplined in game one and must find a balance. "I take it personal, every game I play," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Every time I put that Queensland jersey on, it means so much to me. "There were obviously a lot of emotions that first game, but any game I get to put this jersey on, I take it personal and hopefully I can do a job for my teammates. "I think we have just got to be smart. We've got to treat the ball like gold and make sure that we don't hand it over and give silly opportunities, but the fire's there definitely. "There's a lot of little discipline things that we did (wrong in game one) and we've identified that." The 25-year-old prop brushed aside claims the Maroons were too scared of Leniu to kick to him. "We'll find out our game plan this week," he said. "Whoever's in front of us, we're not taking a backward step and we're excited to play." Fa'asuamaleaui played 12 Origin games in a row and won three series out of four until an ACL tear rubbed him out of last year's 2-1 loss to the Blues. His joy at being back for game one spilled over when there were tears during the anthems in Brisbane. "Putting that Queensland jersey on after watching it as a fan last year, then obviously finding my way back in the team this year ... all the emotions came out," he said. Big Tino must get down to business and channel his emotions in Perth after coach Billy Slater conducted a brutal review of game one on Monday night in camp. "We've had a real honest conversation between players and coaches about what we need to do," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I'm excited to get into training, practise good habits and find our (best) game."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
'It's personal': Maroons enforcer will rip into Haas
NSW wrecking ball Payne Haas beware, because Queensland prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has vowed to "take it personal" in Perth and fire up the underperforming Maroons pack. The Maroons have been baited by NSW forward Angus Crichton, who said the Queenslanders had been told not to kick off to Haas or Blues bench enforcer Spencer Leniu. Leniu called the Maroons "pussies" for not kicking to him in game one of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, won 18-6 by NSW, but Fa'asuamaleaui said he would "not take a backward step" against Leniu. Fa'asuamaleaui was not happy with his start in Brisbane, where his ill-discipline gave away an early penalty. The Gold Coast skipper has wrangled with Haas since they had a classic Origin confrontation in game two of 2020 when both were sin-binned after throwing punches at each other. Fa'asuamaleaui isn't interested in replicating that set-to, but in 2020 he announced himself as a dominant Origin force and outplayed Haas in the Maroons' 2-1 series win. Series wins over a Haas-led NSW pack in 2022 and 2023 followed. Haas was man of the match in Brisbane, and now it is Fa'asuamaleaui's turn to lead the Maroons to victory and save the series. The Maroons were slammed for being out-muscled and ill-disciplined in game one and must find a balance. "I take it personal, every game I play," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Every time I put that Queensland jersey on, it means so much to me. "There were obviously a lot of emotions that first game, but any game I get to put this jersey on, I take it personal and hopefully I can do a job for my teammates. "I think we have just got to be smart. We've got to treat the ball like gold and make sure that we don't hand it over and give silly opportunities, but the fire's there definitely. "There's a lot of little discipline things that we did (wrong in game one) and we've identified that." The 25-year-old prop brushed aside claims the Maroons were too scared of Leniu to kick to him. "We'll find out our game plan this week," he said. "Whoever's in front of us, we're not taking a backward step and we're excited to play." Fa'asuamaleaui played 12 Origin games in a row and won three series out of four until an ACL tear rubbed him out of last year's 2-1 loss to the Blues. His joy at being back for game one spilled over when there were tears during the anthems in Brisbane. "Putting that Queensland jersey on after watching it as a fan last year, then obviously finding my way back in the team this year ... all the emotions came out," he said. Big Tino must get down to business and channel his emotions in Perth after coach Billy Slater conducted a brutal review of game one on Monday night in camp. "We've had a real honest conversation between players and coaches about what we need to do," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I'm excited to get into training, practise good habits and find our (best) game."
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
He got Kikau off at the judiciary. Now he wants NRL to overhaul the system
The lawyer who successfully challenged Viliame Kikau's dangerous contact charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night has called for an overhaul of the system to provide discounts to representative players or those participating in the finals series. Kikau was facing an $1800 fine with an early guilty plea for his challenge on Parramatta kicker Mitchell Moses, but the Bulldogs elected to contest the charge despite Kikau not being in danger of missing a match through suspension. The club feared the prospect of the guilty plea going on his record, increasing the likelihood that a future misdemeanour could result in the Kikau missing a big end-of-season game. The decision to contest the charge proved a masterstroke, with Kikau's lawyer Paul McGirr earning a rare victory in just his second appearance at the judiciary. McGirr was able to convince the panel that Kikau didn't put Moses into a dangerous position, and that the Eels star was playing for a penalty. 'Players are very wily and will try to gain any edge,' McGirr said on Wednesday. 'Is it gamesmanship? Possibly. But the judiciary and match officials need to be turned on to that and not fall for the trap. It's a fine line.' McGirr felt the bigger issue was the practice of players not contesting charges of which they believed they were innocent, for fear of copping a greater sanction at Rugby League Central. He said that pleading guilty to minor matters 'can come back and haunt you' if subsequent offences resulted in time on the sidelines. 'At the time, you think, 'It's only a fine, we'll pay for you, who cares?'' McGirr explained. 'But it goes on your record and then when you need your good record, you think about how sad that could be going into the finals. 'That would be Kikau's second strike. Not that he's planning on offending, but it could prove the difference between playing in a grand final or not. Ironically, you get done on a double points weekend and you think 'Why did I plead to that when I wasn't even guilty?'
