Zac Lomax makes bold call about role at Eels after weighing in on Clint Gutherson fallout

Zac Lomax has made it abundantly clear where he expects to play for Parramatta in 2025 after starring on the wing for the Eels and Blues this year. Lomax is set to make his debut for the Kangaroos in Friday night's Pacific Championships Test against Tonga off the back of an incredible season that saw him named as one of the winger's in the NRL's Dally M Team of the Year.

It came after Lomax's push to play centre was rejected by Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, prompting the flyer to seek a release from his contract with the Red V. He eventually agreed on a reported four-year, $2.6 million deal to join Parramatta from 2025. Lomax's decision to move to the Eels came with an assumption that he'd be playing in the centres but the sacking of long-time Parramatta coach Brad Arthur midway through last season appeared to leave things up in the air for the 25-year-old.

Lomax's career-best season on the wing - which included 14 tries in 21 games for the Dragons and a starring role in the Blues' State of Origin series win - left many critics arguing that incoming Eels coach Jason Ryles should leave him on the wing next season. But Lomax has emphatically shut down those suggestions and told The Sydney Morning Herald that he'll be playing in his preferred position for Parramatta.

“I’ll be at centre next year, for sure,” Lomax told SMH. “I wanted to go and test myself. It was time for a change. And that change is at Parramatta... I was confident coming into this season, and I came in with the mentality of wherever I played, I wanted to nail that position and be the best possible [player] in that position.

Lomax indicated some of his frustrations at the Dragons came from training at fullback across the whole pre-season, before being put back on the wing when the season got underway. He said while he loves playing on the wing and enjoyed "every minute" of the season, it does not change the fact that centre is where the rep star sees his future.

Zac Lomax addresses reports about Clint Gutherson's future

While Lomax is excited by the next chapter of his career at the Eels, one player potentially heading in the other direction is club captain and fan favourite Clint Gutherson, who's emerged as a target for the Dragons. Despite being named Parramatta's player of the year in 2024, Gutherson has been given permission to speak with rival clubs for next season, leaving young gun Isaiah Iongi in pole position to claim the No.1 jersey at the Eels.

Lomax says he'd love for Gutherson to stay at Parramatta but accepts that his departure may be the best thing for all parties, even if the Eels recruit reckons the veteran fullback still has plenty to offer whatever team he ends up at. “I’d love ‘Gutho’ to be at Parra, but I also understand Gutho has to do what’s best for him – he’s been such a great player, and he still is a great player,” Lomax said. "There’s talk he might be going to the Dragons. That could be a really good buy for them. Wherever he goes he will be a good player."

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However, Lomax says his immediate focus lies with the Kangaroos and making sure his Test debut is one to remember against a Tonga side that defeated the Aussies the last time the nations met in 2019. Lomax says even though he's been in camp with the Kangaroos in Brisbane, he's been keeping in touch with his new Eels coach Ryles "regularly" and says Parramatta's disappointing 15th-placed finish in 2024 only gives them added motivation to succeed next season.