If Zac Lomax proves as evasive on the field as he was during his press conference on Tuesday at Rugby Australia headquarters in Sydney, he will be a Wallabies try-scoring machine in no time.

About 20 minutes into a packed media session, flanked by Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh, director of high-performance Peter Horne and Western Force boss Niamh O’Connor, Lomax was tossed what amounted to a ball in open space with no one in defence.

Given he hasn’t fulfilled his past two NRL contracts – with the St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels – could he give rugby fans an assurance that if things went badly in Western Australia, he wouldn’t walk out on the code?

“That was the decision I made and I stick by it,” Lomax said to a room full of rugby and league journalists and what felt like as many television cameras.

“I guess previously, there’s obviously been a narrative out there. But for me, I’m so stoked. Everyone at the Force and Rugby Australia has shown the faith in me. I can’t wait to get there. My family is going to move with me.”

A simple “I won’t be breaking my contract” would have sufficed. Even “I’m committed until the end of 2027″ would have helped his cause.

Zac Lomax arrives at a press conference at Rugby Australia headquarters after signing with the Western Force on a two-year deal. Credit: Ben Symons

Eyebrows may also have been raised in the west when Lomax referred to the Western Force several times as “Perth”. The Perth Bears enter the NRL in 2027.

Instead, Lomax’s determination to stick to his script and not give a reply that could result in juicy headlines meant that at times, he did not actually answer the question put to him. Some he didn’t want to go near, including one about Parramatta’s refusal to release him.

© Brisbane Times