Latest news with #ZacLomax
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
How New South Wales supersub Connor Watson learned to become a State of Origin matchwinner
Connor Watson still isn't quite sure of how the pass happened, he's just glad that it did. The New South Wales utility put his stamp on another Origin as he latched onto a Zac Lomax pass close to the line, twisted his way through four Queensland defenders to pop a miracle ball up for Dylan Edwards to score the try that wrapped up Game I for the Blues on Wednesday night. It was a great show of skill and desire, albeit one Watson didn't get to see finished given he was trapped under a pile of Maroons defenders as Edwards crashed over but the noise was unmistakable. "When I threw that ball I didn't know what was going to happen and then I heard everyone cheering — far out, no way that just came off," Watson said. "It was a bit of a fluke — Lowy (Zac Lomax) got me the ball, the line was so close even though I knew I wouldn't get there myself. "I just tried to throw it up and Dyl, being a great fullback, was in support got it across the line." It's the second Lang Park match in a row where Watson has come on fresh in the final stages of the match with the game in the balance and come up with a key play to steer the Blues home. In last year's decider, when he also came on with 15 to go and the match in the balance, he dribbled an offload to Jarome Luai deep in his own half that gave the New South Wales five-eighth the space to take on the Queensland defence, slice through and find Bradman Best for the breakout try of the game. Watson's versatility opened the door for him to become part of the New South Wales side but through three games it's his impact late in matches that's come to the fore. In 30 minutes of game time combined across his last two matches, the Roosters hooker has made more of an impact than some players do in their Origin careers. It isn't easy to sit on the bench for over an hour and wait for your number to be called. It takes a lot of patience, both to ride it out and to not be too frantic when you come on in an effort to make the most of it. The latter was something Watson struggled with in the early stages of his career but has now mastered, especially for New South Wales. Like all good bench matchwinners, Watson understands that 15 minutes can be more than enough time to find a winning play. "Early in my career, and I had this conversation with some of the younger guys at the Roosters this year, I'd chase it almost too much because when you get little time you want to make as much of an impact as possible," Watson said. "But bring energy, putting yourself in different positions and those opportunities will come, you don't need to force them. "When I was young I'd go on and try to go crazy, but you can burn out doing that. "Coming on with 15 minutes to go is still plenty of time to make an impact, you just have to trust that opportunity will come. "I was itching to get out there and it can take a while but it's worth the wait. "I focus on my defence and in attack I just push, do that and things will be alright." After winning their first Lang Park decider in 30 years last series, making further history of their own was a focus for Laurie Daley's side in the lead up to Game I. They've now won back-to-back games at Lang Park for the first time in over a quarter-century and a win in Perth in three weeks' time would be their fourth consecutive victory and give the state it's longest winning streak since 1996-97. With Watson and his cohorts getting more and more acclimatised to the Origin furnace, it would take a brave punter to back against them doing so. "Every Origin game I've played the physicality and the intensity of the contact stands out, that's what separates it from the NRL," Watson said. "The ruck is a bit slower but the speed of the ball moving is higher, defences and attack moves faster. The more you play it, the more you understand what it's like. "It's great to get a win up here, but there's still two games to go yet."
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Robbed': Fans fume at player of the match verdict in State of Origin Game 1
Rugby league fans have questioned whether Zac Lomax was robbed of player of the match honours in NSW's Game 1 State of Origin victory. The Blues won 18-6 but the score flattered Queensland given NSW missed four conversion kicks and could have piled on more points if they were at their best. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The results marks the first time since 1998 that NSW have won consecutive games at Suncorp Stadium, putting the Blues in the box seat to retain the Origin shield as the series heads to Perth for Game 2. Broncos prop Payne Haas was a force in the middle for the Blues as NSW dominated Queensland in the battle between the two forward packs. Haas finished with 18 runs for 156 metres, five tackle busts, three offloads and 30 tackles without a miss. It was a trademark game from Haas who set the tone, but Lomax was arguably even more special on the right wing for NSW. Lomax ran for 209 metres (including 75 post contact metres) from 25 carries and scored two tries to take his tally to five tries from just four State of Origin games. His effort to set up the match-sealing try was spectacular too. Nathan Cleary put up a short kick and Lomax grabbed the ball out of the air and flicked it on to Connor Watson, who bobbled it up for an offload just as he was about to be tackled. Dylan Edwards grabbed the footy and dived over to score an epic team try. Haas had a stellar game but footy fans made the case that Lomax was robbed of player of the match. The Daily Telegraph described Lomax as the 'early favourite for the Wally Lewis Medal' as player of the series. The NRL commentator behind the popular 'The Oracle' X account wrote: 'Difficult choice for man of the match. When was the last time a winger was MOM? Zac Lomax for me ahead of Haas & Angus Crichton.' One fan wrote: 'Lomax was phenomenal. He was my MOM. I could have handled Yeo. Can't agree with Haas.' A second said: 'Lomax robbed of MOM, Best on ground by a country mile!' A third said: 'Haas as man of the match was more of a joke then Qld's attack.' A fourth added: 'He played well but how anyone apart from Lomax got it is a mystery.' There was plenty of praise for Haas' performance too. George Rose said: 'Payne Haas man of the match well deserved. Beast! Blues clean sweep inbound.' Penrith premiership winner Scott Sattler said on SEN: 'He was amazing. His physical attributes. I don't think I've seen in a front rower since Paul Harragon.' One fan said: 'Should have been Lomax imo but Payne was immense too so nothing wrong with this call.' NSW captain Isaah Yeo was full of praise for his wingers Lomax and Brian To'o after the game. 'They're fantastic players, they help you so much in sort of yardage coming out of trouble,' Yeo told Nine. 'They just never seem tired, the pair of them. But then off the back of that, their carries are so powerful and you gain momentum often, particularly early. 'It's hard to do in this arena to get early momentum in sets, and they certainly do a wonderful job for us.'
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Wild theory on Nathan Cleary's poor kicking in State of Origin opener emerges
NRL great Andrew Johns has floated a conspiracy theory surrounding the balls used in the State of Origin opener after wayward kicking marred the Blues' 18-6 victory. While New South Wales won the match by 12 points, it could have been a far greater margin if it wasn't for some poor kicking. Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary, who nailed an early penalty goal, missed all three of his conversion attempts before Zac Lomax took over kicking duties and badly missed the final attempt of the match. All three of Cleary's attempts were from difficult angles, but it was still a rare sight to see him fail to hit the target. Maroons kicker Valentine Holmes was also way off with his conversion attempt, while Mitchell Moses also kicked one dead in-goal, which added to Johns' theory. The NRL legend wondered if the balls were a bit fatter due to the different logos. The Origin Steeden has a Maroons and Blues logo on both points. 'I'm going down to the sheds and I'm going to ask Nathan if the balls were a little bit different,' Johns said on Channel 9. 'Even the sound of the ball when they were kicking, it just sounded different. 'Mitchell Moses kicked one (dead) in-goal, he never gets that wrong. 'Sometimes they are a little bit fatter, maybe the graphics on the ball, whether that changes it. 'Zac Lomax, he missed it by a mile, that was a sitter.' But Cleary shot down the potential theory when speaking to Johns after the match. 'The last one I kicked was definitely just an F-up,' said Cleary. 'I think I'll reflect on that and I think there was a bit going in my brain, I had so many things I wanted to do. 'I've thought about being back in this arena so often and so many things I wanted to do and sometimes I need to calm down a bit and go through the processes.' Blues coach Laurie Daley wasn't fussed by Cleary's wayward night. 'Well it's a good day to have off isn't it,' he said. 'I don't know Nath that well because I haven't worked with him, but just to see the way that he prepares I know that would be burning him and I know that he won't be like that again. 'He'll do whatever it takes … he'll be right.' The comprehensive victory has the Blues on the cusp of back-to-back Origin triumphs. So far ahead were NSW on Wednesday night, former Blues coach Phil Gould remarked in that they had 'shattered' Queensland and left them with no answers. There are also signs that NSW will also only improve, with Moses and Cleary having got through their first game together in the halves, impressing in the process. 'I thought they were great,' Daley said. 'First time they've played together. It's difficult when you bring new people together. But I thought they were terrific. 'I thought Nate really threatened with the ball. Mitch was good. Defensively they were both strong.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
NRL great floats Origin conspiracy theory after NSW Blues' poor kicking
The NSW Blues won by 12 points, but it could have been an even bigger blowout if not for some shoddy kicking. In the end the Blues missed all four conversions with Nathan Cleary responsible for the first three before Zac Lomax took over the duties and sprayed wildly with the final conversion attempt of the match. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. While Cleary could be given a bit of a reprieve for his kicking with most of his attempts coming from a difficult angle, it was an unusual sight for a player of his ilk to be missing so badly. It's what left Andrew Johns believing something greater was at play. The NRL legend and former sharpshooting kicker believed the ball being used in the Origin opener was completely different and said even the graphics on the ball could have been a cause for the wayward display. 'I'm going to ask Nathan if the balls were a little bit different,' Johns said. 'Even the sound of the ball when they were kicking it just sounded different. 'Mitchell Moses kicked one in the end goal, he never gets that wrong. 'Sometimes they are a little bit fatter, maybe the graphics on the ball whether that changes it. 'Zac Lomax, he missed it by a mile.' Johns then ventured down into the victorious Blues rooms where he spoke with Nathan Cleary and looked to get the Panthers star on board with his conspiracy. 'Watching from afar, even the sound of the ball kicking it just sounded different. Was it more your plant foot on the slippery ground when you were kicking or did you just 'F' up?' Johns asked. Cleary laughed before overlooking the potential theory surrounding the ball, insisting the misses were all his own fault. 'The last one I kicked it was definitely just an F up. But I don't know I think I'll reflect on that and I think there was just a bit going on in my brain,' he said. 'I had so many things I wanted to do. But I've thought about being back in this arena so often and so many things I wanted to do. 'Sometimes you just need to calm down a bit and just go through the processes.' While Cleary owned his poor kicking, Blues coach Laurie Daley was keen to poke fun at the Panthers star during his press conference. After being asked if he'd have to hold a kicking competition at the next training camp, Daley turned to Blues skipper Isaah Yeo. 'Yeah I think it's Yeoy's job to get him right,' Daley said. 'Well it's a good day to have off isn't it. 'I don't know Nath that well because I haven't worked with him, but just to see the way that he prepares I know that would be burning him and I know that he won't be like that again. 'He'll do whatever it takes … he'll be right.' Despite Cleary's kicking woes, the Blues ultimately made light work of their rivals as they ran in four tries to one in enemy territory. It's the first time since 1997-98 that NSW have won consecutive games at Suncorp Stadium, proving Queensland's fortress holds no fear for this current Blues squad. It's also the first time since 2005-06 NSW have won three Origin games in a row. Andrew Johns said on Nine: 'This hasn't been a 12-point win. They have been far, far superior. The scoreboard flatters Queensland.' The Blues will look to wrap up the series when Game 2 gets underway on June 18 at Perth's Optus Stadium.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New South Wales take State of Origin series lead
New South Wales beat Queensland 18-6 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane to take a 1-0 series lead in the State of Origin. The Blues scored three first-half tries, with winger Zac Lomax grabbing two and Brian To'o the other. That left the Maroons with a mountain to climb but Xavier Coates cut the deficit in the second half after capitalising on a handling error by Latrell Mitchell. But any hope the Maroons had of a late comeback were quashed seven minutes from time as Lomax found Connor Watson after a brilliant one-handed take, who set-up full-back Dylan Edwards to go over. "That was massive, the way that we started - our fight and courage was unbelievable," said victory means defending champions New South Wales claimed back-to-back wins at the Suncorp Stadium for the first time since 1998. Queensland must win in game two in Perth on 18 June to keep the series alive before game three in Sydney on 9 July.
