Blues rookie Zac Lomax has admitted he played through the pain of a knee injury to deliver an outstanding performance for New South Wales in their Game II demolition of the Maroons.
Lomax scored two tries and kicked five goals to account for 18 of his side’s 38 points, including an incredible, albeit trademark aerial effort to score when leaping over opposite number Murray Taulagi to reel in a Mitch Moses kick. He also ran for 111 metres and had six tackle busts.
The Moses-Lomax combination in full swing would have been a sight for sore eyes for Eels fans, considering the outside back is joining Parramatta next season.
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Lomax had his knee heavily strapped throughout the game, but if it wasn’t for that, you wouldn’t have known he had been dealing with an issue in the lead up to the MCG blockbuster.
Speaking in the sheds post-match, Lomax said he suffered knee bursitis and had to have it drained however it was never going to stop the fierce competitor from playing.
“My knee caused me a bit of (grief),” he told Fox Sports’ Eloise Sohier.
“I had a bit of a bursa in my knee and I got it drained a bit but it’s alright.
“I mean you don’t miss an Origin game… I don’t sort of feel it now.
“Whatever it takes to be a teammate and they did the exact same thing. I’m sure a lot of these boys are playing with injuries and that’s the way it goes.”
Lomax’s knee was iced up in the sheds, which leaves him in doubt to take the field for the Dragons against the Dolphins on Sunday.
The injury didn’t dampen his spirits though, as he reflected on just his second Origin game.
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“Super stoked to be apart of it. To be in a performance like that, I’m super proud of the boys,” he said.
“We still have a job to do. It’ll be a massive effort for us up there in Brisbane (in Game III). We’ll celebrate this one and enjoy it but super stoked.
“To have my family here and see what it means to them, I’m stoked and happy to be apart of it… It’s a pinch myself moment.”
In a shock move at the beginning of the season, new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan made the decision to shift Lomax from centre to the wing.
It was a call that frustrated Lomax and is believed to be the catalyst for the 24-year-old’s decision to request an early release from the Red V.
However, it has proved to be a Flanagan masterstroke, with Lomax playing the best footy of his career on the flank and in turn, opening up the opportunity to represent the Blues.
Lomax told Fox Sports that he’s “thoroughly enjoyed” his footy this year
“I just try and be the best teammate I can and I just want to compete on everything.
“I just love footy. It doesn’t matter what position I’m playing, I just love it. It’s all I’ve wanted to do and I just want to win so whatever that takes.”
Blues coach Michael Maguire wasn’t keen on disclosing the mystery surrounding Lomax’s knee in his press conference.
“It was just a bruise,” Maguire said when asked if Lomax had to have his knee drained before responding: “It was just a bit of a bruise” to another follow-up question.
Maguire did wish to elaborate though on Lomax’s performance, lauding the winger and his habits throughout Origin camp.
“You look at that and he does it at training and practices that. There’s a reason why players get to the quality of who they are and it’s because they practice,” Maguire said.
“You see that in every game that he’s played, he’s competing. He’s a real competitor and we were able to isolate that edge when he went up and scored a good try.
“The best part about that was the fact the team got around him when he scored and that was really pleasing.
“You sort of see the enjoyment of the players are getting out of their teammates coming up with plays like that because that’s the quality that he brings.
“As a coach it’s nice to see your players embracing each other.”