Thomas Hazelton has been ruled out forcing a Sharks bench tweak, while Zac Lomax has revealed the reason why he’s been switching between wing and centre.
Lomax has been named in the centres in all three games in 2025, but has spent considerable time on the wing in defence and when returning kicks.
The Eels recruit told CODE Sports that the reason behind the backline switch was to assist outside back Jordan Samrani with his introduction to first grade.
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“Obviously Jordie came in and he is a centre. It was his first few games and it worked easier for him to defend at centre,” he said.
“It worked that I would defend the wing and catch kicks really.”
Lomax was selected for the Blues last season on the back of stellar form on the wing for the Dragons and carried that form into the representative arena.
Yet, due to his desire to play centre, Lomax would leave the Dragons to sign with the Eels.
With the winless Eels struggling though, Lomax says he’s willing to play wherever he’s needed most.
“I just want to win – that’s all my focus is,”Lomax said.
“Sometimes it looks like I am doing a little extra work but my teammates expect it of me and I expect it of myself.
“I am willing to do whatever it takes to win and a lot of players are in the same boat here.
“Being one of the leaders in the team, you do whatever it takes.”
Lomax was enormous as the Eels handed in their first decent performance of the season against the Dogs last weekend, racking up over 200 running metres.
Storm weapon Ryan Papenhuyzen will have to prove his fitness in a Captain’s Run on Friday, but believes he will be “good to go”.
Craig Bellamy confirmed the fullback had suffered an ankle niggle following his side’s clash with the Panthers, and general manager Frank Ponissi provided an update on Thursday.
“He did most of the session and trained well. We will see how he pulls up from it tomorrow before we make a final decision,” Ponissi said.
Papenhuyzen, meanwhile, was positive about his chances of facing the Dragons while revealing an “exclusive” development about his goalkicking.
“I did it on the weekend (against Panthers) tried to ice it, get the swelling down… I did a bit of an ATFL, they call it,” Papenhuyzen said on the One Six Seven Podcast.
“I feel like I’ll be good to go, I just don’t know if I will goal kick, that’s the only thing.
“… For the SuperCoaches out there, Tyran Wishart, he’s got the tee this week… exclusive.
“He was confident too, he came to me and said ‘yeah, I’ll kick this week’. I said, ‘all yours brother’.”
Sua Fa’alogo will replace him in the No.1 jersey if Papenhuyzen fails to prove his fitness.
SATURDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Melbourne Storm, 3pm AEDT at Nestrata Jubilee
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. David Klemmer 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Dylan Egan 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Players cut: 20. Blake Lawrie 21. Tom Eisenhuth 22. Lyhkan King-Togia
Late Mail: To come.
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Kane Bradley 19. Marion Seve
Players cut: 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Angus Hinchey
Late Mail: Sua Faalogo has been cut from the reserves with Ryan Papenhuyzen set to overcome ankle soreness to play. Speaking after the Storm’s loss to the Panthers on Thursday, Craig Bellamy revealed Papenhuyzen finished the match with a “crook ankle”. However, Papenhuyzen has since revealed he believes he will be free to take the field.
NQ Cowboys vs. Canberra Raiders, 5.30pm AEDT at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 21. Karl Lawton 22. Thomas Mikaele
Players cut: 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Thomas Duffy
Late Mail: To come.
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 19. Jed Stuart 22. Adam Cook
Players cut: 18. Danny Levi 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Albert Hopoate
Late Mail: To come.
Cronulla Sharks vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 7.35pm AEDT at Sharks Stadium
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 21. Toby Rudolf 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Hohepa Puru
Players cut: 16. Thomas Hazelton 18. Jayden Berrell 22. Billy Burns
Late Mail:Thomas Hazleton is a late scratching due to his back injury with Toby Rudolf taking his spot on the bench after returning from a shoulder injury.
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Josh Curran 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Kurtis Morrin 21. Jack Todd 23. Jonathan Sua
Players cut: 19. Joseph O’Neill 20. Blake Taaffe 22. Luke Smith
Late Mail: To come.
SUNDAY
Manly Sea Eagles vs. Parramatta Eels, 4.05pm AEDT at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 22. Dean Matterson
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Jack Williams 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Dan Keir 18. Sam Tuivaiti 19. Charlie Guymer 20. Joash Papali’i 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Jordan Samrani
Players cut:
Late Mail: In a huge blow, the Eels will be without forward Jack Williams for up to six weeks. Williams was named in the starting side despite suffering a knee injury against the Bulldogs in Round 3. He was told this week however that he’ll need to undergo surgery. A recruit from Cronulla, Williams has been one of Parramatta’s best this season. Zac Lomax says he’s been switching between wing and centre this season to help out the inexperienced Jordan Samrani. With Samrani left out of the 17, Lomax may stay at centre throughout Sunday’s clash against the Sea Eagles.
Wests Tigers vs. New Zealand Warriors, 6.15pm AEDT at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Latu Fainu 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Solomona Faataape
Players cut:
Late Mail: Winger Jeral Skelton is racing the clock after picking up a hamstring injury last week, according to The Daily Telegraph. Solomona Faataape has trained in Skelton’s place this week and is the likely replacement if he is ruled out.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Te Maire Martin 20. Jacob Laban 21. Samuel Healey 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Bye: Newcastle Knights
