What Wallabies coach had to say after Zac Lomax seals future NRL return

Wallabies coach Les Kiss hasn’t closed the door on a future call-up for code-hopper Zac Lomax, despite the Western Force winger penning a headline-grabbing deal with NRL expansion side the PNG Chiefs from the 2028 season.

Lomax became the fifth signing in club history this week, unveiled to a passionate crowd rugby league supporters in Port Moresby. The former New South Wales Blues flyer joins Jarome Luai, Alex Johnston and Connor Watson as some of the team’s marquee recruits.

This news came 142 days after the Western Force and Rugby Australia announced that Lomax had committed to the 15-player code on a two-year deal, with the appeal of potentially playing at Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 “a powerful motivator.”

11 players were deemed unavailable for Wallabies selection when Kiss’ first squad was named on July 23, with Lomax included in that injury list. Max Jorgensen, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter and Filipo Daugunu are instead some of the candidates to line up on the Wallabies’ wings against Japan.

But there is still a chance that Lomax could play in Wallaby gold down the line, with coach Kiss insisting that competition for places is healthy. But for now, Lomax is expected to play some minutes for the Force during Super AUS.

“I’ve started before, we need as much competitive pressure for selection as possible. Competitive pressure in the right way makes everyone better,” Kiss told reporters in Sydney.

“[Lomax is] a pretty good footy player. He’s a pretty athlete too. He’s hungry to try and do what he can in the game. He’s in the system.

“I’ve spoken to [Force coach Simon Cron] on this assignment as well. He’s keen to get him back. He’s getting closer to being ready and unleash him in Super AUS to get a few games to see where he is.

“I think he wants to find out where he is as well, and he’s going to go gung ho for it. He’s in the picture, as they all area – it’s a competitive position, though. That’s the important thig.

“If he comes really good, it makes it hard to make some selections there which I need, I need it to be tough to make those selections.”

It didn’t take Lomax long to turn heads in Super Rugby Pacific, showing some positive signs off the bench away to the Fijian Drua in round nine, before touching down for a maiden try in a start against the Crusaders the next week.

Lomax scored two tries across six consecutive starts, but the Force fell short of the playoffs. Force teammate Pietsch was rewarded with higher honours, but the competition for places in the top squad has perhaps never been so fierce.

Mark Nawaqanitawase is another outside back option that will soon become available for the Wallabies, with the winger finishing up with NRL powerhouse the Sydney Roosters at the end of the current campaign.

‘Marky Mark’ played for the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, before switching to sevens for the Paris Games and then the NRL. But the 25-year-old has committed to Japanese side Saitama Wild Knights ahead of the 2026/27 Japan Rugby League One season.

“We’ve got a lot of good men in that back three,” Kiss added.

“If [Lomax] gets better and better and puts pressure on those guys to be better, then I’m all for it.”