Lomax desperate for Origin on rollercoaster day for NSW

The Advertiser

17-05-2025

Zac Lomax has admitted he would be "devastated" to be overlooked for the State of Origin series opener, as NSW dealt with a rollercoaster day on selection eve.
On a chaotic Saturday for the Blues, incumbent captain Jake Trbojevic was knocked out, Jacob Saifiti's calf left him in doubt and Stephen Crichton avoided a ban.
Trbojevic's spot had already been in some doubt, but any hope of staying in the team was all but lost when he was concussed in Manly's win over North Queensland.
There also remain concerns over Newcastle prop Saifiti, who looked likely to earn an Origin recall before hurting his calf against Parramatta on Friday.
He would need a medical clearance to enter Blues camp on Monday, after he had been firming as an option to add to his two Origins off the bench.
Crichton, meanwhile, is in the clear after copping a grade-one dangerous contact charge that carries with it a $3000 fine after Canterbury's win over the Sydney Roosters.
Had the Bulldog copped a grade-two charge for putting his shoulder into Lindsay Collins' head, he would have been looking at a three-match ban.
Crichton is a near-certainty to be picked by the Blues at the end of this round for the May 28 series opener, but Lomax remains in a more uncertain spot.
The Eels right winger scored two tries and ran for more metres than any other player in Friday night's 28-6 drubbing of the Knights - his first game in six weeks.
The performance would no doubt have been watched with keen interest by returning Blues coach Laurie Daley, who has a wealth of back-line options at his disposal.
Jacob Kiraz, Brian To'o, and Lomax are all candidates for the two wing spots, while Crichton or Tom Trbojevic could also figure there if squeezed out of the centres.
Playing a starring role in last year's come-from-behind series win has motivated Lomax to earn selection again.
"Of course I want to be back there. It's not just me, every single person that gets a phone call will be devastated if they're not in the team," Lomax said.
"They'll be lying if (they say) they're not. Everyone wants to be in that team.
"Origin is a goal that you set at the start of every year. It's the pinnacle of footy, you want to achieve that goal. For me, I got a taste of it last year and I loved it. Everyone that's played there just wants to go back and do it again and again."
Injuries meant that it wasn't until Friday that Parramatta recruit Lomax had the chance to showcase his combination with halfback, and possible Blues teammate, Mitch Moses.
Lomax admitted a part of him feared his unfortunately-timed foot issue and the last-placed Eels' form could have hurt his selection chances.
"A little bit," he said.
"But what will be will be. It all happens the way it's supposed to happen. If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be, but I feel like I've tried to put my best foot forward week in, week out.
"I'm a New South Welshman, I bleed blue. For me, as long as that shield stays here, that's my focus. Fingers crossed I get a nice happy call in the next couple of days."
NSW will either name their team on Sunday night after Wests Tigers' clash with South Sydney, or hold off until Monday morning if injuries or judiciary issues intervene.
Daley must make a call between incumbent Dylan Edwards and former captain James Tedesco at fullback, to go with his backline headaches.
Moses and Jarome Luai are also jostling to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves, after the pair took NSW to victory in Cleary's injury-enforced absence last year.
A new captain will also need to be appointed, if Jake Trbojevic does indeed miss out.
Zac Lomax has admitted he would be "devastated" to be overlooked for the State of Origin series opener, as NSW dealt with a rollercoaster day on selection eve.
On a chaotic Saturday for the Blues, incumbent captain Jake Trbojevic was knocked out, Jacob Saifiti's calf left him in doubt and Stephen Crichton avoided a ban.
Trbojevic's spot had already been in some doubt, but any hope of staying in the team was all but lost when he was concussed in Manly's win over North Queensland.
There also remain concerns over Newcastle prop Saifiti, who looked likely to earn an Origin recall before hurting his calf against Parramatta on Friday.
He would need a medical clearance to enter Blues camp on Monday, after he had been firming as an option to add to his two Origins off the bench.
Crichton, meanwhile, is in the clear after copping a grade-one dangerous contact charge that carries with it a $3000 fine after Canterbury's win over the Sydney Roosters.
Had the Bulldog copped a grade-two charge for putting his shoulder into Lindsay Collins' head, he would have been looking at a three-match ban.
Crichton is a near-certainty to be picked by the Blues at the end of this round for the May 28 series opener, but Lomax remains in a more uncertain spot.
The Eels right winger scored two tries and ran for more metres than any other player in Friday night's 28-6 drubbing of the Knights - his first game in six weeks.
The performance would no doubt have been watched with keen interest by returning Blues coach Laurie Daley, who has a wealth of back-line options at his disposal.
Jacob Kiraz, Brian To'o, and Lomax are all candidates for the two wing spots, while Crichton or Tom Trbojevic could also figure there if squeezed out of the centres.
Playing a starring role in last year's come-from-behind series win has motivated Lomax to earn selection again.
"Of course I want to be back there. It's not just me, every single person that gets a phone call will be devastated if they're not in the team," Lomax said.
"They'll be lying if (they say) they're not. Everyone wants to be in that team.
"Origin is a goal that you set at the start of every year. It's the pinnacle of footy, you want to achieve that goal. For me, I got a taste of it last year and I loved it. Everyone that's played there just wants to go back and do it again and again."
Injuries meant that it wasn't until Friday that Parramatta recruit Lomax had the chance to showcase his combination with halfback, and possible Blues teammate, Mitch Moses.
Lomax admitted a part of him feared his unfortunately-timed foot issue and the last-placed Eels' form could have hurt his selection chances.
"A little bit," he said.
"But what will be will be. It all happens the way it's supposed to happen. If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be, but I feel like I've tried to put my best foot forward week in, week out.
"I'm a New South Welshman, I bleed blue. For me, as long as that shield stays here, that's my focus. Fingers crossed I get a nice happy call in the next couple of days."
NSW will either name their team on Sunday night after Wests Tigers' clash with South Sydney, or hold off until Monday morning if injuries or judiciary issues intervene.
Daley must make a call between incumbent Dylan Edwards and former captain James Tedesco at fullback, to go with his backline headaches.
Moses and Jarome Luai are also jostling to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves, after the pair took NSW to victory in Cleary's injury-enforced absence last year.
A new captain will also need to be appointed, if Jake Trbojevic does indeed miss out.
Zac Lomax has admitted he would be "devastated" to be overlooked for the State of Origin series opener, as NSW dealt with a rollercoaster day on selection eve.
On a chaotic Saturday for the Blues, incumbent captain Jake Trbojevic was knocked out, Jacob Saifiti's calf left him in doubt and Stephen Crichton avoided a ban.
Trbojevic's spot had already been in some doubt, but any hope of staying in the team was all but lost when he was concussed in Manly's win over North Queensland.
There also remain concerns over Newcastle prop Saifiti, who looked likely to earn an Origin recall before hurting his calf against Parramatta on Friday.
He would need a medical clearance to enter Blues camp on Monday, after he had been firming as an option to add to his two Origins off the bench.
Crichton, meanwhile, is in the clear after copping a grade-one dangerous contact charge that carries with it a $3000 fine after Canterbury's win over the Sydney Roosters.
Had the Bulldog copped a grade-two charge for putting his shoulder into Lindsay Collins' head, he would have been looking at a three-match ban.
Crichton is a near-certainty to be picked by the Blues at the end of this round for the May 28 series opener, but Lomax remains in a more uncertain spot.
The Eels right winger scored two tries and ran for more metres than any other player in Friday night's 28-6 drubbing of the Knights - his first game in six weeks.
The performance would no doubt have been watched with keen interest by returning Blues coach Laurie Daley, who has a wealth of back-line options at his disposal.
Jacob Kiraz, Brian To'o, and Lomax are all candidates for the two wing spots, while Crichton or Tom Trbojevic could also figure there if squeezed out of the centres.
Playing a starring role in last year's come-from-behind series win has motivated Lomax to earn selection again.
"Of course I want to be back there. It's not just me, every single person that gets a phone call will be devastated if they're not in the team," Lomax said.
"They'll be lying if (they say) they're not. Everyone wants to be in that team.
"Origin is a goal that you set at the start of every year. It's the pinnacle of footy, you want to achieve that goal. For me, I got a taste of it last year and I loved it. Everyone that's played there just wants to go back and do it again and again."
Injuries meant that it wasn't until Friday that Parramatta recruit Lomax had the chance to showcase his combination with halfback, and possible Blues teammate, Mitch Moses.
Lomax admitted a part of him feared his unfortunately-timed foot issue and the last-placed Eels' form could have hurt his selection chances.
"A little bit," he said.
"But what will be will be. It all happens the way it's supposed to happen. If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be, but I feel like I've tried to put my best foot forward week in, week out.
"I'm a New South Welshman, I bleed blue. For me, as long as that shield stays here, that's my focus. Fingers crossed I get a nice happy call in the next couple of days."
NSW will either name their team on Sunday night after Wests Tigers' clash with South Sydney, or hold off until Monday morning if injuries or judiciary issues intervene.
Daley must make a call between incumbent Dylan Edwards and former captain James Tedesco at fullback, to go with his backline headaches.
Moses and Jarome Luai are also jostling to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves, after the pair took NSW to victory in Cleary's injury-enforced absence last year.
A new captain will also need to be appointed, if Jake Trbojevic does indeed miss out.