Zac Lomax’s NSW Origin hopes take major blow as Roosters destroy Dragons 60-18 in Anzac Day thrashing

State of Origin hopeful Zac Lomax saved his worst performance for the biggest stage as St George Illawarra’s inconsistent season took yet another turn with a 60-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day.

Lomax has been the talk of the NRL this season, his highly publicised release request at complete odds with his scintillating form on a move from centre to the wing.

But Lomax, who led the Dally M Medal leaderboard ahead of round eight, had an afternoon to forget in the 23rd annual Anzac Day Cup, just as NSW selection conversations are truly clicking into gear.

With the scores locked up 6-6, the Dragons’ best player this season threw a careless offload to Ben Hunt while they were working their way out of trouble.

Hunt, clearly not expecting Lomax’s pass, spilt the ball into the hands of Michael Jennings, who passed on to Angus Crichton for the Roosters’ second try.

The blemish proved a game-defining moment, swinging all momentum to the Roosters following a tight, physical start to the game.

The Roosters ran in three more first-half tries and cruised to a 30-6 lead they never looked like surrendering.

Things couldn’t have got off to a worse start for Flanagan’s men when Moses Suli was knocked out while defending Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on the opening kick-off return.

Back-rower Tom Eisenhuth took Suli’s spot in the centres and the disruption appeared to have had little impact on the Saints, who took the lead when Jaydn Su’A finished a flowing move after six minutes.

But from there it was nearly all one-way traffic for the following 74 minutes.

Even with left winger Daniel Tupou out and Jennings’ mid-game injury forcing more reshuffling, the Dragons could not unlock Lomax, their strike weapon on the right side this season.

He was well contained by opposite man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the Wallaby-in-waiting helping drive Lomax towards the sideline as the Dragons looked to strike back at 12-6 down.

On that occasion, Lomax threw another errant pass that ended the attacking raid.

By the time Lomax injected himself into the attack, it was too late, his cut-out pass to try-scorer Tom Eisenhuth reducing the deficit to 48-16 as the final 10 minutes approached.

His running was down, though still better than the rest of the Dragons’ best five at 140 metres for the game.

The final try of the game came as Suaalii burst through Lomax in a one-on-one contest.

The Dragons’ season at large has followed a similar pattern, with inconsistency just as much a defining factor as improvement.

Shane Flanagan’s side came into Thursday’s game on the back of consecutive wins, but have now conceded the biggest Anzac Day loss since the traditional clash’s inception in 2002 and will finish the weekend outside the top eight.

On the other side of the field, a rejuvenated Sam Walker masterminded the Roosters’ win.

Twelve months after being dropped from the traditional Anzac Day game, Walker outgunned Hunt in a one-sided victory for the Roosters in front of 40,727 fans at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.

The performance caps an encouraging turnaround for Walker, whose 2023 season was a near write-off after picking up a knee injury while being demoted to reserve grade.

The diminutive halfback, who missed the last fortnight due to concussion, set up three tries, scored one himself and kicked 10 of 10 from the tee for a 24-point haul.

Walker’s ruthlessness, in what was the Roosters’ most fluent attacking performance of a hitherto erratic campaign, condemned Flanagan’s Dragons to the worst result of his short tenure.

The Saints became the first side this season to have 50 points put on them.