Zac Lomax of the Western Force was tackled by Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii of the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium, but the highly anticipated duel between the two code-hoppers failed to deliver fireworks. The match, a grind rather than a glamour showcase, saw the Force edge the Waratahs 20-17.
A Historic Duel Revived
The last sanctioned duel in Sydney took place in 1851 between Sir Thomas Mitchell and Sir Stuart Donaldson. On Friday night, 165 years later, two modern duellists met at Allianz Stadium. Zac Lomax, the former NRL star turned rugby union winger, faced Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, rugby union's golden boy returning from injury. The match was billed as Zac versus Joey, but neither player significantly impacted the game early on.
Early Struggles and Missed Opportunities
Lomax, who had shown promise in previous games with aerial mastery and try-scoring, struggled to replicate his NRL form. He missed two high balls before securing a third. Suaalii's first pass went astray. When the two met in contact, Suaalii tackled Lomax at the ankles, forcing an error. At half-time, the scores were level at 10-10, with neither duelist drawing blood.
Second Half Grind
Ten minutes into the second half, Lomax almost changed the game but the pass went elsewhere. Instead, winger Dylan Pietsch scored a second try for the Force. Lomax surged in support but his pass went over the sideline. Both Lomax and Suaalii left the field after 59 minutes, having failed to ignite the contest. A late Waratahs try was not enough, as the Force held on for a 20-17 victory.
Fans Left Wanting More
The crowd of 10,906 at Allianz Stadium felt short-changed by the lack of star performances. Unlike their Origin days, where Lomax scored on debut after Suaalii's early send-off, there were no such fireworks. The match was a reminder of rugby union's grind, with big stars rarely getting the ball in space. The real losers were the fans, who saw neither Lomax nor Suaalii fire. No one even lost their hat.
