New NRL outfit lure back Zac Lomax but miss out on Aussie rugby union ace

Zac Lomax has vowed that the PNG Chiefs will shock the NRL when they enter the competition in 2028 after penning a three-year contract, but it is not all good news for the expansion outfit.

The Chiefs had made Queensland Reds rising star Treyvon Pritchard, who is tipped for superstardom, a target, but instead of switching codes, he has agreed a new deal with the Super Rugby outfit and Rugby Australia.

Pritchard, 19, who was also a target for the Sydney Roosters, agreed a new three-year deal with Rugby Australia at the end of last week despite a tax-free salary on offer to move to Port Moresby.

Lomax, who is currently recovering from a foot injury and has another year left to run on his deal with the Western Force after joining them midway through last season, scored two tries in seven appearances.

He joined the Force after a bid to join the Melbourne Storm ended in failure after leaving Parramatta Eels, who blocked the move after releasing him for a move to rebel competition R360, which fell through when their proposed launch date collapsed.

Lomax had been targeting a Wallabies call-up, but that is now unlikely to happen, even though his plans for the period between leaving the Western Force and starting with the Chiefs haven’t yet been revealed.

“We’re going to shock the NRL, I tell you that,” Lomax told the crowd after signing at a local game on Sunday, flanked by Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas, head of recruitment Liam Ayoub, and Prime Minister James Marape.

PNG Chiefs chief executive Lorna McPherson said Lomax’s signing was a sign of their ambition, and he could be joined by Racing 92 inside centre Joey Manu, who is now weighing up his options after a visit to Port Moresby last week.

“We’re delighted to sign a player with Zac’s talent to our squad ahead of what will be a momentous season for rugby league. As a club, we are completely focused on building a team that demonstrates how committed we are to bringing success to Papua New Guinea,” she said.