Zac Lomax had every right to be worried about losing his NSW Blues jumper, but that wasn’t the main concern for the Parramatta star during his stint on the sidelines.
After starring in last year’s series, Lomax was seen as an automatic selection until he suffered a fractured foot playing against his former club St George Illawarra in April.
The initial prognosis was that Lomax would miss six weeks of action, putting him in a race against time to prove his fitness for the State of Origin opener.
The 26-year-old returned last Friday night for the blue and gold outfit, making an immediate impact with a two-try performance in the win over Newcastle.
Lomax’s display for the Eels was enough to remind selectors and coach Laurie Daley why he should be in the side ahead of the series opener, with teammate Mitchell Moses also getting the nod in the halves despite a hampered 2025 campaign to date.
The pair, who struck a close bond in both NSW and Australia camps last year, have only taken the field together once for Parramatta this year.
Their second game will come at Origin level in front of 50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
“It hasn’t been ideal not being able to play as many games as we would have liked together,” Lomax told Wide World of Sports.
“Last week was the first week, but fingers crossed we can build on that good relationship next Wednesday and hit the ground running when we go back to club land.
“I just wanted to get in there and play with the Eels, that’s all I was focused on.
“I was confident that I just had to put in a good performance and just go out there and compete … that’s all I was worried about.
“Whatever was going to happen with Origin would happen and thank God it all worked out and the foot has pulled up sweet.”
Lomax’s off-season move was meant to spur the Eels back towards the top-eight, but his injury along with Moses spending time on the sidelines has meant the side remain in the bottom-four on the NRL ladder after 11 rounds of action.
However, if things go to plan, Moses and Lomax could take their Origin exploits back with them and push things in the right direction in the back-half of the season.
The playmaker and captain was full of praise for Lomax after his return.
“He was very busy, he had a fair few carries,” Moses said.
“He was really excited to get back. It was burning him watching us play and we didn’t have much success when he was out. He’s been good for the club – he played rep footy last year and he’s brought that experience back to Parramatta.
“We’ve got a really young squad. He’s tried to help out wherever he can. It was burning him watching from the sideline and he showed that on the weekend.
“He’s a quality player and he’s excited to be back in this camp.”
Lomax was originally signed to play in what was perceived to be his preferred position of right centre – but that plan went by the wayside rather quickly under Jason Ryles.
The fleet-footed Temora product put to bed the narrative that he left the Dragons in order to play in the centres, reiterating once again his team-first mentality.
“In regards to that, I don’t care where I play and my teammates know that,” Lomax said.
“They know that I want to win and be the best teammate I can be. Wherever it is, I don’t care and obviously Rylesy knows that and he knows what he’s gonna get from me.
“It is what it is, it gives you guys [the media] something to talk about. There’s always speculation about everything when someone is moving clubs.
“It is what it is and I guess the thing that made that conversation pop up a little bit more is because I was able to play rep footy last year in that position.”
Lomax is expected to play on the wing outside Bulldogs superstar Stephen Crichton for the Blues when the series kicks off on May 28.
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