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Ben Hunt has revealed Zac Lomax continues to be hoping to go away St George Illawarra regardless of the membership transferring to bar the winger from negotiating with NRL rivals.
Hunt, who had his personal launch request blocked final season, praised Lomax for persevering by way of the frustration of his positional change to cement himself because the membership’s finest participant by way of two rounds.
New coach Shane Flanagan moved Lomax to proper wing within the preseason to permit Jack Chicken to return to the centres reverse Moses Suli.
The extremely touted Lomax, primarily a centre by way of 95 first-grade video games, has been dissatisfied by the transfer to the wing and was linked with a switch to Parramatta amid the deadlock.
However the Dragons made it clear no launch can be entertained for Lomax, who’s on a big-money contract on the three way partnership by way of to 2026.
Hunt discovered himself in the same state of affairs final season when he hoped to safe a launch from the ultimate two-and-a-half years of his contract after the Dragons sacked coach and shut confidant Anthony Griffin.
The Saints ultimately talked their captain down, however he has been fast to verify in on Lomax.
“Zac and I, we discuss a bit,” Hunt stated.
“I am conscious that he does need to depart however he isn’t exhibiting that he is sad and he looks like he is having fun with himself.
“Every time he desires recommendation, he is aware of that I am at all times blissful to offer it. He is very open, Zac, and he’ll at all times ask for one thing if he wants it.”
Hunt was fast to level out that Lomax had been in high quality contact on the appropriate wing for the Dragons by way of the opening two weekends of the season.
He ran for a game-high 265 metres within the 28-4 win over Gold Coast, scoring a strive, and was once more his aspect’s prime metre-eater within the hefty 38-0 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
“He is been our greatest participant the final two weeks, to be trustworthy,” Hunt stated.
“I can not fault both of his video games. He positively wasn’t the rationale we misplaced (towards the Dolphins).
“Whether or not he likes the place or not, he is doing a bloody good job of it.”
Hunt even steered the brand new place could possibly be Lomax’s likelihood to lastly make good on his potential as a NSW State of Origin prospect.
Lomax has lengthy been rated a future Origin participant with new Blues coach Michael Maguire reportedly contacting him this week.
“He is positively the kind of participant that I reckon ‘Madge’ would love,” Hunt stated.
“Madge is actually well-known for his onerous work and (liking) gamers that at all times give 100 per cent effort, and that is what Zac is.
“It would be foolish if Madge wasn’t him.”
Hunt admitted the newest loss to the Dolphins had raised previous considerations in regards to the path through which the Dragons are heading.
However the 33-year-old, who pushed for a mid-season transfer dwelling to Queensland final yr, was agency on staying put because the membership navigated the begin to Flanagan’s tenure.
“(Doubts) at all times pop up behind your head at any time when you will have a loss, it doesn’t matter what it is like,” he stated.
“It at all times tries to creep in. However I am staying constructive.
“I am right here on the Dragons. I’ve put my head down within the pre-season, I’ve tried to remain onerous and get us again on observe.
“I felt like we have been doing that, we had a giant hiccup on the weekend however my focus is on getting us again into the finals.”
AAP
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