KIERSTEN DUKE: Lomax could be NRL saviour Parra fans have been crying out for and why extra time is golden

Zac Lomax put on a winger masterclass on Sunday to contribute heavily to the St George Dragons success in Campbelltown over the Wests Tigers, winning 24- 12.

Despite playing out of his skin, Lomax, unhappy playing on the wing, will return to his favoured position at centre when he joins Parramatta next year.

The deal everyone knew was coming was confirmed on Tuesday with Zac, set to play his 100th game infront of the Dragons faithful in Wollongong on Friday, signing with the Eels for four years from 2025.

Eels fans will be pumped as the club continues to search for a “X-Factor” player that can help end their much publicised 38-year premiership drought.

Lomax will add fantastic strike on the ground and in the air. He will revel in taking advantage of Mitchell Moses’ superb kicking game.

He’s also a solid goal-kicking option with the ability to deputise for Moses.

Boasting a terrific forward pack and a top-class spine, could his addition to the outside backs be the missing piece of the puzzle for Parramatta?

Speaking of kicking duties, we had not one but two golden point thrillers this round with the Raiders pipping the Titans and Warriors drawing with the Sea Eagles in a gruelling extra time finale.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but man I love golden point. The nonstop action and seeing the players leave it all on the field is such an adrenaline rush.

Just one error can make or break the entire game and boy does it brings back memories of my Dad screaming incoherently at the TV during an EPL penalty shootout as a kid growing up in England.

Heck, why don’t we make it golden try. Though I would end up screaming even more; yelling instructions on where the teams should attack‘ please?

It probably would not be well received by my boss when I rocked up to work on a Monday with no voice after impersonating my father.

The Roosters may have struggled against the Storm in recent times but will be feeling confident taking them on this Thursday coming off the back of a gutsy win over Newcastle despite missing key players.

Captain James Tedesco and young halfback Sam Walker were missing due to concussions, but it gave Joey Manu an opportunity to step into spotlight and shine at fullback and shine he certainly did.

Running a huge 326 metres, Manu consistently created opportunities every time he touched the ball and has yet again fired up the argument about whether fullback is his best position, despite the Tedesco having a mortgage on the No.1 jersey.

The Chooks are yet to win back-to-back games in 2024 and the stats aren’t in their favour, with Melbourne winning eight of their past nine games against them.

Storm winger Xavier Coates has scored seven tries in his past three games against the Roosters.

For the Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has been earning his keep, touching down for five tries in six games in 2024, making for fascinating showdown between two of the game’s best wingers.

But it was rugby convert Will Warbrick who stole the show the last time these two teams met in the second week of the finals last season.

The Roosters led 13-12 with under two minutes remaining, before the Storm winger took a spectacular catch, more akin to one you would see across the road from AAMI Park at the MCG, to win the game in the dying stages.

With Teddy and Walker to return and Melbourne prop Tui Kamikamica in doubt following a calf injury against the Bulldogs, it does seem the Roosters are rated well here to turn the tables on Craig Bellamy’s men.

Whichever way you look at it, the heavyweight clash is a thriller you don’t want to miss.

Kiersten Duke is a horse racing presenter for Sky Racing with a passion for NRL, soccer and netball.

Catch her at @kierstenduke