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 left the Parramatta Eels after a legal battle with the Melbourne Storm, switched codes to join the Force and is expected to come off the bench in the match. His experience at Lang Park includes scoring tries for the Eels and NSW, making him no stranger to the venue’s hostile atmosphere. The Reds, currently fourth on the ladder, have struggled after a recent win streak, while the Force, with only one win in six games, have shown competitive resilience. Both teams feature international players, with the Reds’ hooker Matt Faessler returning from injury and the Force’s coach Simon Cron praising Lomax’s readiness for the challenge. The match is part of a busy weekend in Super Rugby Pacific, with the Waratahs playing in New Zealand and the Brumbies having a bye.
✓ 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 is a 26-year-old former NRL star who played for the Parramatta Eels and NSW in State of Origin matches at Lang Park, scoring two tries in the 2025 Origin opener and three goals in the 2024 decider.
- Lomax scored two tries for the Eels in July 2024 at Lang Park, where they upset eventual NRL premiers Brisbane Broncos.
- 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.
- 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:
- Queensland Reds hooker Matt Faessler, who missed the last four matches due to a knee injury, is available for selection and competing for the starting hooker role alongside Josh Nasser.
- Faessler stated: 'He's obviously a great talent in rugby league. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes if he plays against us on the weekend. I’m sure he’s no stranger to a hostile [Lang Park] crowd. Good luck to him if he plays.'
- Faessler added: 'They've got a heap of international players in their side. I think they're definitely playing better than the scoreboard is sort of representing.'
- Faessler highlighted the Reds' recent struggles after a four-match win streak, including a 52-14 defeat to the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources.
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