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| July 7, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Zac Lomax is set to win the race to be NSW’s goal-kicker in State of Origin 2 ahead of Latrell Mitchell, with reports emerging that Mitchell Moses has suffered an injury scare at training. With Nicho Hynes axed, the Blues have to find a new kicker for the all-important role for Game 2 at the MCG.

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Michael Maguire has plenty of options, with Moses, Mitchell and Lomax all kickers at NRL level with the Eels, Rabbitohs and Dragons respectively. Dylan Edwards has also been kicking for the Panthers in the absence of Nathan Cleary, while Stephen Crichton is also more then capable.

Many would have expected Moses to win the job considering he has the best success rate at NRL level. But leading journalist Danny Weidler reported on Monday that the race was down to Lomax and Mitchell, with a decision to be made on Tuesday after the Blues’ final training session.

Zac Lomax handed crucial Blues job after Mitch Moses injury scare

NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire has reportedly handed goalkicking duties for State of Origin II to Zac Lomax after Mitchell Moses reported soreness in his foot.

Moses has only played three games for the Eels since returning from a foot fracture that kept him out of the selection picture for Origin I.

But the Eels gun pulled up sore after training on Monday, prompting blues coach Michael Maguire to look at other options.

He had plenty of them. Lomax and Latrell Mitchell are both frontline kickers for the Dragons and Rabbitohs respectively, while Dylan Edwards has been the Panthers’ kicker in Nathan Cleary’s absence and Stephen Crichton can also kick.

On Wednesday morning, News Corp reported Lomax had been given the job in what will be just his second Origin appearance.

Lomax is kicking at 78.8 per cent in 2024, having kicked 41 from 52 this season.

Backing up from Origin I, he smashed a Dragons’ joint-venture club record against the Tigers in round 14 when he kicked 10 from 10 and scored three tries at WIN Stadium.

There is no suggestion Moses won’t be fit to line up as Blues No.7, only that he won’t be goalkicker.

“He will love the challenge,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said on Tuesday.

“Zac has self-belief by the bucket loads. It’s a big game but he takes his goalkicking really seriously.

“I’m not saying he will kick every single goal but Zac will go through his processes.

“He will need to get used to the arena where there is a lot of open space behind the goalposts.

“It will be a matter of getting the angles right.”

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