Zac Lomax’s rugby union debut with Western Force against Queensland Reds at Lang Park
Consensus Summary
Zac Lomax, a former NRL star and NSW State of Origin player, is set to make his highly anticipated Super Rugby Pacific debut this weekend for the Western Force against the Queensland Reds at Lang Park. Lomax, who scored two tries and kicked three goals in Origin matches at the venue, will come off the bench in a game that marks his first rugby union appearance since switching codes after being left without an NRL contract. His release from the Parramatta Eels in late 2024 was tied to a delayed rugby union league (R360), and his move to the Force aligns with his goal of being available for Wallaby selection ahead of the 2026 Rugby World Cup. The Queensland Reds, led by hooker Josh Nasser, are preparing for the match despite a recent 52-14 defeat to the Hurricanes, while the Force, with one win in six rounds, have shown competitive resilience. Both teams are navigating squad depth issues, with Reds hooker Matt Faessler still recovering from a knee injury. The game at Lang Park, a historically contentious venue for Lomax, will test his adaptability as a rugby union player against a competitive Reds side.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Zac Lomax will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut this weekend (Saturday) for the Western Force against the Queensland Reds at Brisbane’s Lang Park, kick-off at 7:35pm AEDT
- Lomax is named on the bench for the Western Force in their round-eight clash against the Queensland Reds
- Lomax scored two tries for NSW Blues in the 2025 State of Origin opener (18-6 win over Queensland Maroons) at Lang Park
- Lomax kicked three crucial goals in NSW’s 2024 State of Origin decider win at Lang Park
- Lomax’s most recent match at Lang Park was in July 2024, where he scored two tries as the Parramatta Eels upset Brisbane Broncos (eventual NRL premiers)
- The Queensland Reds sit fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with four wins from six matches played
- The Western Force have one win from six matches in 2026, with only one loss by more than 10 points
- Matt Faessler (Queensland Reds hooker) is unavailable due to a knee injury sustained in round three against the Highlanders, ruling him out of the last four matches
- Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds) has started the previous four matches for the Reds, winning three and losing one
- The NSW Waratahs are playing in New Zealand against the Chiefs on Saturday afternoon, while the ACT Brumbies have a bye
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Lomax was granted a release from the Parramatta Eels at the end of 2024 to join R360, a delayed rugby union league, with terms preventing him from signing for another NRL team until 2028 unless the Eels accepted compensation
- The Melbourne Storm attempted to sign Lomax but the Eels rejected the offered compensation, leading to a court battle that settled in March 2025 with Melbourne abandoning their pursuit
- Force head coach Simon Cron stated: 'He's a natural athlete — big, strong, fast, powerful. We've done a bit of work with him since he got here, he's very confident that he's ready. We're in a position now where, I think, it's a great opportunity for him to play. He's coming off the bench, so it gives him a chance to work his way into the game.'
- Lomax switched codes to join the Force due to the appeal of being available for Wallaby selection ahead of the 2026 Rugby World Cup in Australia
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
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