Former NSW Origin winger Zac Lomax is set to make his Super Rugby debut for the Force against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening.
Kurtley Beale has observed Lomax at close quarters in training for the last three weeks in Perth, and said the former NRL star reminded him of fellow code-hopper Israel Folau due to his unique physical abilities.
โI had the luxury of playing with Israel Folau at the Waratahs, and I think Zac brings that same presence and athleticism,โ Beale said.
โThe coaches are doing a great job in trying to simplify the game as much as possible for him to be able to get out there and just express himself, and thatโs the end goal, right? You want him to feel comfortable, you want him to be able to add to the game the best way he can.โ
Beale will play his 180th Super Rugby match against the Reds, while Lomax is set to start his professional rugby journey off the bench at Suncorp Stadium, where he played for NSW in State of Origin in 2024 and 2025. The teams will be announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Utility back Beale has taken time to go through game plans with Lomax and believes the former Parramatta wingerโs big game experience and mental strength will be an asset to the Force, who have won one game and lost five this season.
โHeโs obviously played at the highest level in rugby league and been in some great teams with [NSW] Origin and the Kangaroos,โ Beale said.
โSo no doubt weโll be able to try and tap into some of his knowledge around pressure moments, where I feel like at the moment weโre kind of struggling …
โHeโs a good lad and physically, heโs built like a brick. Heโs actually quite tall, too, so if youโre in the outside backs, heโd be a great asset to be able to get some go forward on the edges, thatโs for sure.โ
Beale says Lomaxโs arrival has increased competition for places at the Force, with Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch currently out injured.
โIโm not taking anything away from a lot of the guys that we have here already who have been working super hard over the pre-season, but Zac brings a lot of healthy competition to the group and raises the bar in terms of standards and expectations,โ Beale said.
โItโs a huge challenge for the whole back line. His presence and I think his ball carrying will be another asset, but also to be able to use him as decoys at times as well. Heโs definitely a body that any defence would have to consider when defending against the Force, thatโs for sure.โ
Meanwhile, the Wallabies will play world No.3-ranked Ireland in Canberra next year in the final hit-out before the 2027 World Cup.
The fixture was announced on Tuesday, along with news of a Wallaroos Test against Scotland at GIO Stadium in October.
It will be the first Wallabiesโ Test in Canberra since 2017, and comes after the ACT missed out on hosting any World Cup games. The ACT Government elected not to engage fully in the bid process, disappointing rugby fans in Canberra, but a financial deal was subsequently struck with Rugby Australia to host the Wallabiesโ last game before the tournament.
โItโs certainly very strategic from our perspective, given that Canberra wonโt host any Rugby World Cup games,โ RA chief executive Phil Waugh said. โThe importance of this market for rugby in Australia, itโs really important for us to bring the Wallabies to Canberra for the first time in over a decade.โ
Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa, who played in the last Test in Canberra, against Argentina in 2017, welcomed the return of international rugby to his city and said the tough lead-in to the World Cup โ which will also see the Wallabies finish a full Rugby Championship by playing two games in South Africa โ will be good preparation for the World Cup, which starts with Hong Kong China and the All Blacks a week later.
โFrom a playerโs perspective, itโs good that we have those quality matches before the World Cup, you know so youโre playing a great level, Test match footy, and you get to feel that pressure before you come into the World Cup,โ Alaalatoa said.
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Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
