Dragons star Jason Nightingale has revealed that it will be “bitter sweet” to see Zac Lomax leave the club at the conclusion of the season to join the Eels.
However, he believes the “future is bright” and has identified three promising outside backs who could play a role in the club’s future.
Nightingale played 266 NRL games for the Dragons, including the 2010 Grand Final, giving him the joint venture’s second-most capped player.
He had a highly successful career on the wing, playing 210 NRL games and 32 of his 33 New Zealand matches there.
So, when Lomax learned he’d be moving from centre to wing this season, it was only logical that he spoke with one of the best flankers in Red V history.
“I sat down with him (before the season) and he said ‘I’m playing wing’ and he was half disgruntled about it,” Nightingale told the Fox League Podcast.
“He asked me — I don’t actually know if he listened to what I said — but I said ‘wing is better than centre so you should appreciate that you’re not in the centres any more.'”
Nightingale grinned and continued, “But he didn’t (listen) and he doesn’t (listen),” before praising Lomax’s “awesome” performance this season.
“I think Zac’s most impressive quality is his physical fitness. “He was always the fittest, and now he’s taken it to the next level,” he remarked.
“The amount of work he can put into a game because of his conditioning level—and competitiveness—is incredible. He will do two runs in a set and then chase a kick as if his life depended on it.
“so’s definitely a combination of natural aptitude (he’s genetically fortunate to be so fit) and desire and will. “Seeing him apply all of that is why he’s getting the recognition on the field.”
Lomax, who celebrated his 100th NRL game last week, has played every game this season on the wing save one.
He now leads the Dally M list with six tries in seven games and an average of 167 metres. He also leads his squad in tackle busts and offloads, and ranks second in linebreaks and try assists.
His performance on the wing has even put him in consideration for a New South Wales shirt. But he wants to be a centre, as he’s stated numerous times, and has signed a four-year contract with the Eels to do so.
