Les Kiss reveals whether Zac Lomax will still be considered for Wallabies selection after confirmation of rugby league return

Cross-code star Zac Lomax will still be considered for Test selection despite being set to return to rugby league, according to Wallabies head coach Les Kiss.

Last Sunday it was revealed that Lomax had signed a three-year deal with the Papua New Guinea Chiefs and a video was unveiled on social media of Lomax announcing his arrival to that club’s fans at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

The Papua New Guinea Chiefs are a rugby league club which was established in 2024, and they are scheduled to compete in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) from the 2028 season.

Lomax is a former Australia Kangaroos and New South Wales rugby league star who plies his trade with the Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific but is currently sidelined with a pelvis injury.

The winger signed a two-year contract with the Force earlier this year and Kiss confirmed he remains in the reckoning for Wallabies selection while he is still a rugby union player.

‘Competitive pressure in the right way makes everyone better’

“I’ve stated before, we need as much competitive pressure for selection as possible. Competitive pressure in the right way makes everyone better,” he said.

“He’s a pretty good footy player and a pretty good athlete too. He’s hungry to try and do what he can in the game.”

Kiss, who also played on the wing during a distinguished career in rugby league, is hoping Lomax will be back in action in Australia’s Super Rugby AUS competition which gets underway later this year.

“He’s in the system and I’ve spoken to ‘Crono’ [Force coach Simon Cron] on this assignment as well. He’s keen to get him back and getting closer to being ready,” said the Wallabies coach.

“He’ll be unleashed 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, I know that.

“It’s a competitive position though and that’s the important thing. If he comes really good, it makes it hard to make selections there, which I need. I need it to be tough to make those selections.

Zac Lomax set to leave Western Force to make SENSATIONAL return to the NRL

“We’ve got a lot of good men in the back three. If he gets better and better and puts pressure on those guys to be better, then I’m all for it.”

Despite the confirmation of his move to Papua New Guinea Chiefs in 2028, Lomax revealed that he is still fully committed to rugby union and is keen to return to full fitness in a bid to earn a Wallabies call-up.

‘I want nothing more than to pull on that gold jersey’

“My heart and soul is absolutely dedicated to Australia in rugby union. I want nothing more than to pull on that gold jersey,” ​he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“That’s what it’s about. I need to get ​my body fit and healthy and in the best condition I can to be able to ‌pull ⁠on that jersey.

“It’s a little bit unfortunate being out injured at the moment, but that’s my goal, to play in a World Cup. I’ll do everything in my power to give myself a red-hot chance.”

Australia started their 2026 Test campaign with successive Nations Championship losses against Ireland and France before clinching a convincing victory over Italy.

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Lomax is hoping that his form in Super Rugby AU will see him earn selection to the Wallabies squad for their November Nations Championship Tests in Europe against England, Scotland and Wales.

“Fingers crossed, absolutely,” he said.

“I’m sure everyone ⁠will ​tell you who has had (osteitis pubis), it’s a ​week-to-week thing. Every week it gets better, I’m up at (Rugby Australia) most days through the week getting it ​sorted. Hopefully, I’m back sooner than later.”

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