He’s the Waratahs’ quiet achiever who has been tasked with one of the team’s biggest jobs – stepping into the shoes of injured star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
But this week, at least, Triston Reilly’s connection to high-profile code-switchers doesn’t stop there.
Zac Lomax after signing with the Force this week.Credit: Ben Symons
It turns out Reilly is also one of the few Australian professional rugby players who can provide first-hand testimony about Zac Lomax’s ability to play the 15-man game.
Reilly, who was named as the Waratahs No.13 to replace Suaalii this week, used to call Lomax a teammate in rugby after the pair played for the NSW Primary School XV in 2011. Both were selected in the team from small schools in the bush, Lomax hailing from Temora in the Riverina region and Reilly from South West Rocks on the Mid North Coast.
In a team of mostly 12-year-olds, which also contained future Wallabies lock Nick Frost, Waratah Will Harrison and Sharks and Samoa league forward Oregon Kaufusi, Reilly and Lomax played alongside each other in the No.10 and No.12 jerseys respectively.
“That was a long time ago,” Reilly said. “He was playing 12 back then. He’s obviously a class player; he’s had a long career in league since he was a young fella. I guess having those quality players come across to our game is good.
Triston Reilly makes a break for the Waratahs.Credit: Getty Images
“He’s always been rangy and a big tall fella. He was a good player. He was always good coming through juniors and stuff. We were the same age as well, so I did cross paths with him going through junior league and union. He’s always been good, that’s why he’s where he is.”
Lomax’s history in rugby was questioned after the former Dragons and Eels NRL star this week signed a two-year deal with th Western Force, and particularly in league circles after he was quoted in a statement saying his motivation included, “The dream of one day representing the Wallabies on a truly international stage.”
But along with playing league for the Temora Dragons, Lomax this week revealed he had also played the 15-man game for his school St Anne’s and the Temora Tuskers Rugby Club until 2015, before he moved to Wollongong in year 10 to join St George Illawarra.
Long-serving Tuskers official Kris Dunstan, who is also the first grade coach, said the Lomax brothers – Zac and Hayden – were both star players for the club. Hayden also had several years with St George Illawarra.
“It was clear he [Zac] was very talented,” Dunstan said. “Personally, I thought his brother was a better footballer back in the day. But he was a year older I think and a forward. Zac was a centre. But they were both standouts.
“Zac played in an under-13s grand final in 2011, and another one in 2012. We had a lot of good kids that played rugby at that time who also played league. That’s the thing about Temora, if the rugby side is short, the league boys step up. There’s a bit of back and forth; it’s a small town. And we all help each other out, which is great.”
Dunstan believes Lomax can make a successful switch and become Temora’s first Wallaby. They’ve previously had to claim 1970s flanker Tony Gelling, but Dunstan admits that is “tenuous” given he was from West Wyalong.
“He [Lomax] will be in for a steep learning curve, no doubt, but he’s a top athlete – we’ve all seen that,” Dunstan said.
Reilly also had a dual-code upbringing, and professional career, too. He moved to Sydney to attend rugby nursery St Joseph’s College and played for the Australian sevens team a year after graduating. Reilly played for the Junior Wallabies in 2019, in the star-studded side that made the final of the under-20s world championships and contained Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Angus Bell, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Noah Lolesio and Frost.
After making his debut for NSW in 2020, Reilly departed and spent 18 months at Wests Tigers in the NRL in 2022-23, playing a season of reserve grade and four NRL games, before returning to the Tahs in 2024. Reilly also played for the First Nations and Pasifika XV team against the Lions last year.
Though already known as a strong defender, Reilly said his time in league had helped improve his physicality.
“Just toughness. I found there was more contact playing centre-wing in league,” he said. “You have to be able to carry hard and not get driven back. The contact side, and I think that’s come over to rugby – just being physical.”
With defence a big part of the No.13 role in rugby, Reilly said he was confident he could step up and replace Suaalii. He has played outside centre for Randwick and trained there during the pre-season.
“I feel pretty comfortable there,” he said.
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