Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown is increasingly excited about the prospect of the Eels landing the freakish talents of wantaway St George Illawarra centre Zac Lomax.
“It’s all over my bloody Instagram, I see it everywhere,” Brown said on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Dragons agreed to let Lomax walk out on the remaining two years of his deal.
The Red V have agreed to cut ties with Lomax at the end of this season, freeing up salary cap space for the Dragons to become a major player in the NRL’s transfer market.
The decision also allows the 24-year-old Lomax to find a happy hunting ground after struggling to handle the expectation and constant positional switches that have marked his tenure at the Dragons.
Any hope of Lomax joining Parramatta this season would be dependent on the Dragons getting a player in return as part of a swap deal.
Lomax has excelled on the wing for the Dragons this season but his natural position is at centre, with Brown of the belief he could add some spark to the Eels’ backline.
“I haven’t heard a thing from our club but he’s a good player,” Brown said.
“He’s a freak, he’s one of the best players at the Dragons so I’m sure they’re gutted to be losing him.”
News of Lomax’s potential arrival at Parramatta was met with a lukewarm response from Will Penisini, who has thrived in the Eels centres and become a mainstay of Brad Arthur’s backline in recent seasons.
“I haven’t talked to anyone (about Lomax), but he’s obviously a quality player,” Penisini said.
“It doesn’t really bother me… if he comes he comes, if he doesn’t, he doesn’t.
“The more quality players we get it adds to our depth and competitiveness for spots, whichever club he goes to I know he’ll add that.”
Brown joked that Penisini was worried “Lomax might steal his position” but added: “Will backs his ability but it’s good to have healthy competition everywhere”.
Penisini is keen to keep his eyes on the here and now after last week’s 17-16 loss to the Wests Tigers earned a rebuke from Arthur.
The Eels coach accused his side of lacking desire and Penisini said Parramatta (2-2) must look within themselves to avoid another defeat in Sunday’s trip to Canberra.
“We should have got the job done but the Tigers wanted it more than us,” Penisini said.
“We have got to turn up each week and play the game we want to play.
“It’s disappointing, we left a lot of points out there… that’s not the type of team we want to be and we have to move on quick.”
