Why Lomax switch could bolster Dragons defence

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin is considering switching Zac Lomax from the right edge to the left this season in a move likely to bolster his team's leaky defence on that side of that field.

St George Illawarra's left side defence conceded 48 tries last season – the second most in the NRL behind Wests Tigers.

In comparison, opposition teams only scored 28 tries down their right side – the second-best defensive record behind the Cowboys (26).

St George Illawarra’s right sideline defence, where Lomax defended alongside Fiji winger Mikaele Ravalawa, was the equal best in the NRL with back-to-back premiers Penrith (12 tries).

Lomax played left centre in last Saturday night’s 30-18 loss to Super League champions St Helens in a swap with Tonga international Moses Suli, and Griffin confirmed he was looking at the possibility of the pair switching sides this season.

“Zac finished the year on the left last year and they both can play either side, so we just wanted to have a look at that and see what it looked like,” Griffin said.

“We knew they were only going to play half a game and I thought they were both strong so we will see how we go.”

Samoa World Cup second-rower Jaydyn Su’A defended on the right edge last season, along with five-eighth Talatau Amone, whose immediate playing future is uncertain after being stood down under the NRL’s no fault stand-down policy.

Promising playmaker Jayden Sullivan is one of 12 Dragons stars due to return for this weekend’s Charity Shield against South Sydney and he could start the season at five-eighth in the round two match against the Titans.

Su’A, halfback and captain Ben Hunt, and props Aaron Woods, Zane Musgrove and Francis Molo are others expected to play their first match of the season in Mudgee.

All Stars representatives Tyrell Sloan, Tyrell Fuimaono and Josh Kerr are also available for the Charity Shield.

Griffin said forwards Jack Bird (knee) and Jack de Belin(calf) were the only players likely to miss the Charity Shield, but the pair are on track to be fit for St George Illawarra’s opening premiership match on March 12 after a first-round bye.

Bird could play five-eighth or in the forwards against the Titans, depending on the availability of other players.  

“He will be ready for our round one,” Griffin said. “He obviously won't play next week against Souths, but it was a minor clean-up of some meniscus, so he'll be ready for the first NRL game.”

Lomax scored a first half try but with new hooker Jacob Liddle the only member of the likely Dragons spine to play against St Helens, he and Suli had limited opportunities in attack.

“I thought it was hard for both of them without halves,” Griffin said.

“Without that little bit of extra time it was hard to execute when we needed to and we probably needed to just give them a bit of earlier ball, particularly on last play a few times, but I thought they both did a good job.  

Utility Moses Mbye and rookie Connor Mulheisen played in the halves, but both are considered to be the back-up dummy half options for Liddle, while Treigh Stewart had a mixed night at fullback.

Stewart is the only backline member of the 2019 Illawarra Steelers SG Ball premiership winning team - which featured Sloan, Mat and Max Feagai, Titans centre Aaron Schoupp, Sullivan and Amone - yet to make his NRL debut.

The 21-year-old scored a spectacular individual try in the first half and finished the match with a team high 136 running metres but he also fumbled three kicks and two of his errors led to tries.

“He put himself in the game, he had some great touches and probably a couple that unfortunately for him he would like to forget, but that is the highest level he has played,” Griffin said.

With a two week break after the Charity Shield to their first premiership match, Griffin said the hit outs against quality opposition such as Saints and Souths were important.  

“We sat down when we knew we had the bye and worked out a training load that is a little bit different so we will be ready for NRL round two, which is our round one,” Griffin said.

“The advantage for us is that both our trials are high intensity. The Charity Shield is always a little bit more than a trial, so we get two really hit outs.

“It was a high intensity trial [against St Helens], it was a bit different to a lot of the ones that went on over the weekend.

“We were playing a team at full strength trying to win the World Club Challenge so it was a great opportunity to get our guys a really good test."