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 Brisbane’s Lang Park. Named on the bench, Lomax’s transition from rugby league to rugby union follows his release from the Parramatta Eels in late 2024, after a legal dispute with the Melbourne Storm over signing terms. His debut comes nearly a month after his NRL season ended, and he is aiming to secure Wallaby selection ahead of the 2026 Rugby World Cup. Lomax is no stranger to Lang Park, having played for NSW in Origin matches and scored tries for the Eels against Brisbane in 2024. The Reds, led by hooker Matt Faessler who has recovered from a knee injury, sit fourth in the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with four wins from six games, while the Force, despite a single win in six matches, have shown competitive resilience. Faessler expressed excitement about Lomax’s potential debut, noting his rugby league pedigree and familiarity with the hostile atmosphere at Lang Park, while Force coach Simon Cron praised Lomax’s readiness and athleticism for the challenge ahead.
✓ 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 NSW in the 2025 State of Origin opener (scored 2 tries) and the 2024 decider (kicked 3 goals)
- Lomax’s most recent match at Lang Park was in July 2024, when he scored 2 tries for the Parramatta Eels against Brisbane Broncos (underdog win)
- The Queensland Reds sit fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with 4 wins from 6 matches played
- The Western Force have 1 win from 6 matches in 2026, with only 1 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 (27) missed the last four matches due to a knee injury sustained against the Highlanders, ruling him out of the previous four games
- Faessler said he was excited to compete for the starting hooker role: 'That's the best thing about any high-performance environment, is you're picked on merit and how the team's performing.'
- Faessler noted the Reds have a strong Wallaby squad, meaning no starting position is guaranteed, and he has started only 1 of the last 4 matches (3 wins, 1 loss)
- Faessler commented on Lomax’s potential debut: '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.'
- Faessler acknowledged Lomax’s familiarity with Lang Park: 'I’m sure he’s no stranger to a hostile [Lang Park] crowd.'
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
Source Articles
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