Contenders for intriguing NSW selection battle as Lomax throws ...

There’s just over a month until the State of Origin squads for Game I are announced and although there’s plenty yet to play out, the battle for positions is heating up.

Coming into this season, it could’ve been assumed that the incumbent wingers Brian To’o and Josh Addo-Carr would be there again given the Blues don’t have a whole lot of depth at wing.

But a dark horse has emerged with Dragons star Zac Lomax mounting a seriously compelling case.

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Lomax, who will leave the Dragons to join the Eels next season, was said to be unhappy with Shane Flanagan shifting him to the wing.

But he’s putting together arguably his best season to date — something his captain Ben Hunt even recently declared — and he is thriving so much on the right wing, that he’s rocketed into contention for a maiden Blues jersey in what could be a new-look squad under new coach Michael Maguire.

Here foxsports.com.au breaks down the contenders for the two New South Wales wing spots.

BRIAN TO’O

He’ll probably be one of the first selected for the Blues, as he has seldom let his state down throughout his nine Origin appearances.

To’o hasn’t featured heavily among the try scorers so far this season, crossing twice in just five games, but he’s been very solid and one of Penrith’s best in what has been an up-and-down start to 2024 for the defending champs.

While the Blues lost the series 2-1, it was no fault of To’o, who averaged over 200 running metres across the three games, recording nine total tackle busts, two line breaks and a try.

Barring an injury or an unlikely sudden and steep drop in form, To’o will be there in Game I.

JOSH ADDO-CARR

After being overlooked for the 2022 series, the flying ‘Foxx’ was selected for all three games last year and scored in the final one to help the Blues avoid a whitewash.

Addo-Carr has had a disrupted start to the year with a shoulder injury and concussion limiting him to just one full game. But in his first 80-minute performance, the star winger was arguably one of the best on the field, scoring a hat-trick, getting six linebreaks, nine tackle busts and 221 metres.

The 28-year-old boasts blistering speed — something the Blues missed in 2022 — and if the Bulldogs’ left edge continues to fire his form could be simply too good to ignore.

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ZAC LOMAX

The news of Lomax wishing to force his way out of the Dragons came after coach Shane Flanagan elected to switch him from the centres onto the wing.

Flanagan believed Lomax could be one of the best wingers in the comp, as opposed to a “22nd-23rd ranked” centre.

While Lomax was perturbed by the decision, it’s proven to be a masterstroke by Flanagan.

Lomax has proven a handful in each game for the 3-3 Dragons, and the club’s best player by some margin.

Halfback Ben Hunt spoke last month on Lomax’s shift outside, believing it would bring out the best in him.

“I honestly believe he’s got all the attributes to be one of the best wingers in the comp,” Hunt told NRL.com.

“He’s big, he’s strong, he competes hard on everything, he’s good under a high ball and he’s got a good backfield carry.

“He’s got the makings to be a guy that can play Origin football on the wing.”

Fox League’s Matty Johns says from what he’s seen, the wing “suits” Lomax with NRL great Nathan Hindmarsh agreeing.

“The strength of his game is his ability to run and his work under the high ball. My opinion is, and it’s his career, that the wing suits him,” Johns said.

“Look what he’s done this year so far, compared to what he was doing last year in the centres and doing whatever he wasn’t doing,” Hindmarsh added.

“He’s on fire this year and I suppose it’s been a great move by Flanno but a brave move, because he copped a bit of negative press.

“He’s doing a great job. Under the high ball, once the Dragons realised that Zac will chase these high balls and bring them down, they’ve thought ‘let’s get around him’, and the Dragons have started scoring some more points.”

Lomax has so far all that he possibly can to throw his hat in the ring, but still needs to make some ground on To’o and Addo-Carr you’d think.

However, who knows what direction the new coaching regime, led by Maguire, may go.

OTHERS

Joseph Suaali'i is quietly putting together a solid season left centre for the Roosters, even though his best position may just be on the wing. He was at his best last season when on the flank but due to the injury issues of Billy Smith this year, Suaali'i has had to play inside. He may be off to rugby union next season, but if Suaali'i is called upon and given a chance in the Origin arena on the wing before he switches codes, we have no doubt he’ll thrive. He’s excellent under the high ball, has terrific leaping and catching ability, is a strong defender and isn’t afraid to make hard metres out of his own end.

Suaali'i’s Roosters teammate Daniel Tupou, who has represented the Blues on ten occasions, is also having a strong season at 32 years old. Tupou was no sure thing to start the season in first grade, however injuries opened the door for the veteran and one of coach Trent Robinson’s favourites, and he’s delivered. Tupou’s five tries is one off the lead and he is solo first in the competition for line breaks (9).

Like the Maroons are with Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga, the Blues are faced with a (good) conundrum regarding their fullback stocks, as both James Tedesco and Penrith’s Dylan Edwards are going to be hard to leave out. Tedesco is the Blues skipper and will likely be named fullback, but Edwards’ form has been tantalising in 2024. He’s arguably been the best player in the comp this year and it seems unfair if he was to miss out on a maiden NSW jersey. Edwards played well on the wing when given the chance for the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships last year so we know he can do a job there.