Joey says Eels teen holds key to swift Lomax exit

Andrew Johns has urged St George Illawarra to pursue the signature of a gun Parramatta junior using the money freed up by Zac Lomax’s departure.

The Dragons this week announced Lomax will be released at the end of this year, freeing up $800,000 on their salary cap for 2025 and again for 2026.

While they’ve been linked to the likes of Storm behemoth Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Panthers winger Sunia Turuva, Johns thinks the Red V should go down an entirely different path.

He says the Dragons should chase Eels youngster Ethan Sanders.

Sanders, 18, is considered one of the game’s most promising young halfbacks, but he’s battling to get a look-in at Parramatta.

Even after a long-term injury to veteran No.7 Mitchell Moses last week, Eels coach Brad Arthur decided to put Blaize Talagi into the halves after making his debut at centre a week earlier.

Dragons halfback Ben Hunt is 34 years old, while his partner Kyle Flanagan has struggled to make his mark in the NRL over seven seasons to date.

“Ben Hunt is coming to the end… they’ve got to buy a half or a five-eighth,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth.