Former Penrith, NSW and Kangaroos hardman Mark Geyer did not hold back. “It’s disappointing to hear that when you think St George Illawarra were great to him, Parramatta were great to him, and Melbourne wanted to be great to him,” Geyer said. “He’s basically given the code both fingers.
“I hope it’s the last we see of him. That comment was as subtle as a sledgehammer. It’s not what you say but how you say it. If that wasn’t a two-fingered salute to rugby league, I don’t know what it is. Let him go and try and play in his World Cup.”
“Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out.”
International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant
The irony of Lomax’s enthusiasm for the 15-man code coming so soon after his failed attempt to join the Melbourne Storm was not lost on International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant.
“It’s nice to hear about Zac’s dream of representing the Wallabies, which comes less than two weeks after losing his court case to play with Melbourne,” Grant said.
“His departure from international rugby league is of no consequence – and he will have no impact on rugby union. All I can say, ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out’.”
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Grant said several nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, were live hopes of winning this year’s Rugby League World Cup, while only South Africa and the All Blacks were realistically in contention to scoop the rugby version in 2027.
Lomax is off to play with the Western Force. The Perth-based Super Rugby franchise is clearly popular with the locals – they’ve pulled a crowd of 5000 for both home games so far this season.
There would be more interest in Lomax’s old team, the Temora Dragons, in the Group 9 competition.
Lomax is a brilliant athlete who got dudded by R360. That was not his fault.
The whole circus could have been averted had he insisted on receiving a bank guarantee from R360 before quitting the Eels – and the $700,000 per year they were going to pay him for the next three seasons.
He should be kicking himself over those three years of lost income. And should his rugby switch bomb, he may also come to regret that three-word parting shot at the game that made him a mini fortune.
