Western Force fullback Mac Grealy is just as excited as everyone else to see Zac Lomax’s Super Rugby debut as he prepares for a baptism of fire against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
Lomax has once again been named on the bench on Saturday, missing his debut due to hamstring tightness.
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Coach Simon Cron resisted the temptation to start the former NSW and Australian rugby league international after Darby Lancaster’s ankle injury, shifting George Bridge to the wing and elevating Hamish Stewart to the starting side.
Grealy, who just re-signed for two further years at the Force, believes Lomax will make a seamless transition when called upon.
“I think it's exciting for all of us… It's like having a new toy as a kid, you know, getting to use it and sort of hopefully put him in some good spots,” he said on Tuesday.
“He’s looking real sharp and has definitely put himself in the mix but it was pretty devastating for me last week. He’s certainly put in the work since he’s come in and I know he had a lot of family coming up so to be ruled out was tough, but he’s handled like an absolute professional and that’s how he’s handled things since he’s come in.”
Lomax is joined in the team by returning skipper Jeremy Williams, who has cleared HIA protocols and replaces Darcy Swain, who has been struck down by illness, while Sef Fa’agase comes in for Tom Robertson (HIA).
For Grealy, the trip to Lautoka represents a further chance to cement his spot in the Force’s backline long-term after a brilliant return against the Queensland Reds.
Against his old side, Grealy was one of the standouts in the 42-19 win, having missed their last two games.
With a host of competition for outside back spots, the 24-year-old had his eyes set on fullback after initially being seen as a winger by the Reds.
“I just love being able to get high involvement, try and use my work rate. I love the challenge of backfield positioning and I do think I have an ability to read the game quite well so those things are what I enjoy about it and I've certainly been learning a lot over the last couple of years,” Grealy said.
“It's obviously a bit different at Super Rugby level but I think [the] difference in the wing position, you obviously got some athletes ther, probably a bit more athletic than I am so I think when I play wing, I probably always felt I played more like a fullback when I'm wing, trying to get extra involvements and use my swing a lot.
“Fullback for me [is my preferred position], just personally love being at the back and love kick returns, get to light up a bit.”
FORCE (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Franco Molina, Jeremy Williams (c), Nick Champion de Crespigny, Jack Daly, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Lopeti Faifua, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Kurtley Beale, Zac Lomax
