Zac Lomax’s Rise as a Key Player for the Western Force
Zac Lomax has quickly become a standout player for the Western Force, showcasing his abilities in the air and proving to be a valuable asset on the field. However, coach Simon Cron has emphasized one crucial piece of advice for the former NRL star: avoid attempting mid-air offloads.
During Saturday night’s 31-26 victory over the Crusaders, Lomax delivered a stellar performance, scoring a try while also dominating in aerial challenges. In the first half alone, he managed to catch three box kicks, demonstrating his exceptional skills in this area.
Despite his talent, Lomax’s rugby league background occasionally leads him to attempt offloads before landing. These attempts have not always been successful, prompting the need for adjustment. He made the necessary changes in the second half, with a notable highlight being a try in the corner during the 54th minute that tied the score at 19-19. This came after the Force had trailed 19-0 just 22 minutes into the game.
Cron had anticipated Lomax’s potential as a key player in the air, and he was pleased to see his “elite” skill set transition effectively to rugby union. The coach was particularly impressed by how Lomax adapted to his halftime advice.
“It’s just a different game,” Cron explained. “I wrote it down a couple of times: ‘When you catch the ball, don’t try to offload it’. In rugby league, they get held up and they offload. So we had a chat at halftime. He was like, ‘Yep’.”
Lomax’s ability to absorb information since joining the Force in March has exceeded expectations, impressing both his teammates and coaches.
“He’s finding his feet. He’s a big, strong man, and he’s so keen to learn,” Cron said. “Even at halftime, he’s hitting me up about three or four different things in the sheds, which is awesome. He adds a really dominant voice in our backline too. He loves to talk about the game, and as you saw, in the air he got some good ones. He’ll only get better.”
Lomax’s dominance in the air could prove to be a critical weapon for the Force as they aim to secure a spot in the finals. Currently, they are seven points behind the sixth-placed Crusaders with just five games remaining in the season.
“It’s a skill set that’s elite,” Cron said. “There’s a plan for us to try and use him as best we could. There’s a few other things he’s elite at too that we’ve got to tap into as we get him on that field.”
The Force will have a bye during the competition’s Super Round this week before facing NSW in Sydney on May 1. With Lomax’s growing influence and adaptability, the team is optimistic about their chances of making a strong push for the finals.
