Zac Lomax has zero regrets

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Robinson, guys right, the clearing.

At the back end with Danielings, I was low-maxing a score untouched.

The Blues are absolutely giving it to them around zero-lane park.

The second trial of low-max, the defence was nowhere.

Former NRL star Zach Low-max is coming to a rugby game near you.

The origin-winger has signed a two-year deal with the Western force in rugby Australia.

And this story has been confusing.

This is a player who was granted a release from the paramedic eels to chase big money

in breakaway rugby comp R360.

He looked to pivot to the force when that comp fell over,

but the money was deemed too low, so tried to join the storm.

That move was blocked by the eels and the new South Wales Supreme Court.

Are you keeping up?

Now, he's back in rugby having taken a pay cut

and talking about the dream of a Wallaby's jumper and the international game.

What is motivating?

This Supreme talent can he make the cut, any regrets,

and is he done with the NRL?

We're about to ask him.

I'm Patrick Stack.

This is ABC Sport Daily.

Zach Low-max is rugby Australia's fresh, new recruiters here to talk all about it.

G'day, Zach.

Hey, how are you, Willa?

I'm really good.

Your official statement spoke about a desire to play on a quite truly international stage

as a key motivation.

How central a driver was that to your decision, the global aspect of rugby?

Oh, I think it's massive, obviously.

One that I've spoke to in rugby league is, you know,

speaks about the travel across the global stage,

and maybe rugby is obviously played across more than 100 different countries.

That's something that definitely appeals to me

and appeals to every rugby and player and makes their eyes light up

when they talk about it and the travel that they get to do.

The NRL industry didn't love you referencing

rugby being truly international.

I don't know whether you've noticed that.

You might have, you know, caught a few newspaper articles around the traps.

I think that's right.

Well, this disappoints me,

because I have backs back to an extent through this whole process.

But that, I mean, that's just a shot at rugby league.

It may be inadvertent, but you've got to be smarter than that

to say a truly international stage.

You know, give me a break.

You're leaving the game, go.

Do you think your relationship with the NRLs

is going to be impacted by, I guess, the way it's been sort of framed?

Oh, my comments can be taken completely different ways.

And for me, when that's said, obviously, the reality is

that rugby is played on a global stage

and all around the world.

And for me and my relationship with rugby league,

I'm super, super grateful for everything

that rugby leagues give me, rugby leagues,

put me in the position to be able to do what I'm doing now.

For me, like, I've been able to play on the international level

and I know what that's like.

And that's my proudest achievement to this day

is being able to play for my country and rugby league.

So I'm super stoked and I'm super grateful

for every opportunity that rugby league has given me.

And who's to say, I don't know if I'll be there in the future,

but make who knows.

As I said, I'm grateful for rugby league

and what it's given me.

But in regards to comments, that's the reality is that rugby

and is on a global stage and played around the world.

I've found the way that the broader media

has sort of interacted with this story really interesting.

Like a lot of people in the NRL industry

super vocal about this move, whether it's Craig Bellamy.

Yeah, I think everyone in the game would like to see him

stay in the out game.

You know, he's an origin player, he's played for Australia.

So, as I said, he's a quality player,

but he's a quality person too and, you know,

to lose him to another game would be disappointing.

Peter Vellandis with his big support of you,

we want Zach in the game, you know.

I know Zach and he's a good guy.

Like he's being painted as his villain.

Because you're trying to do the best for yourself,

you're not a villain.

Can I ask for someone who's in the center of the story,

who's living it?

Why do you think people are so interested in your future

and where you ultimately have landed?

Oh, I guess at the moment, you know,

I guess I'm playing representative footy

and it's the decision that I may probably

come into the problem my career.

And it's definitely turned heads in, I guess,

good boys or bad boys.

And ultimately, it's been my decision.

And it's one that I've got to live by.

I mean, no one else gets impacted by my decision, really.

So, for me, it's a decision that I've made.

And one that excites me because it's, you know,

I'm essentially a novice to the game in rugby

and ultimately that excites me

about how much I've got to learn

and pick up in regards to being on pace

with the rest of the league.

And that kind of draws me into what motivates you,

which I think is really interesting

because I wonder whether you misunderstood

and tell me if I'm wrong,

but I think you took significantly less money

to leave the dragons for the eels.

And I assume the attraction of R360 was somewhat financial.

But instead, you've ultimately now taken less money

to play for the force.

And it makes me wonder maybe we're not really understanding

what drives you as an athlete.

What is it that motivates Saklo Max?

Oh, it's a test and that's the thing.

And for me, coming into rugby,

it was a game that I played going up.

And but I didn't want to get to the end of my career

and I think, you know, I should have given that a go.

I should have given this a go.

And yeah, obviously in regards to the rugby league aspect,

like it's essentially me walking away from the game.

But at the end of the day, that's life.

And I'm not that's made the decision.

And there's obviously been a holy speculation about it.

But my sense is I made the decision.

Now, if it's good and at the end of the day,

it's a game of footy, but like regardless of where it is I play.

But, you know, it's been a little bit crazy

in regards to how it's paying down.

Considering that I've said zero about it

and never come out and said anything.

But it is what it is.

And I'm pumped to have a decision done and move on from it.

Like I think a lot of our listeners

would really struggle to get their head around

like the idea of losing half of their pay packet

to go to another job.

Like, can you help us understand what that's like?

The decision making that goes into that

and the, I guess, the belief that you have to have

to make that jump, that kind of leap of faith

with a lack of certainty about your future.

Oh, I guess that there's not a lack of certainty

because, you know, I signed it to you deal.

So, you know, I'm obviously going over to play

for a couple of years, mate, and fingers crossed it.

You know, I rely on my hard work and dedication

to put me in good stead

for whatever is to come in the future.

Must've been an absolute rollercoaster

to go through this from sort of the conclusion

of last year's rugby league season.

The ups and the downs.

I mean, supreme court battles

with multiple rugby league clubs

sort of vying for your services.

When you found out that last week

it wasn't going to go ahead, can you just take it

into that moment like emotionally

where were you with the way you were feeling?

Oh, I mean, it wasn't my deal.

But, you know, the circumstances aren't on our deal.

But for me, it's, you know, it moves on now.

So, you know, it's completely in the past.

And I'm looking to the future.

And, you know, I think I can keep diving back

and giving everyone some to talk about.

But, mate, it's, you know, I've moved on

and I want to go and become the best rugby any player I can.

And that's over at the force trying

to understand the game.

Seeing Noong Anatoa say,

Criton, Sua Lee, Carter Gordon,

all these players within our experience moving to rugby.

Did that embolden your decision making at all?

And have you spoken to any of those players

or was it kind of off to the side?

No, not really.

Obviously, you've showed that, you know,

they want to go and test themselves as well.

Sua is being great.

One of my good mates, Angus Bells over at

playing rugby.

You know, he's obviously in the,

in the world, he's team, you know,

and, and, and good mates too.

And, and Gussie and,

and a few of the boys that have

that are going to make that,

make the change.

And, but that's ultimately because I want to test himself too.

I mean, Gussie, you know, Gussie's in his prime.

And, and he's going to go and play next year.

So, you know, it's going to be a good test for him as well.

But he obviously has played a bit more rugby in him than I have.

But, yeah, I'm, I'm sure that he's going to be,

he's going to be great when he moves over.

What position are you sort of zeroing in on

in the 15 man code?

Oh, anywhere in the backspace.

I'm not too sure, but, yeah, hopefully,

Crony and, and the coach staff at the

four, so it will be all over that.

And, and they will help me understand the game

from more different, different aspects.

As you say, like you played the game growing up,

like you understand rugby.

Who did you admire when you were coming through the ranks

that you thought you were kind of modeling your game on, if at all?

Oh, easy for the hours.

I was obviously the one who I was,

I watched the most.

So, yeah, he's obviously a big, powerful outside back

and, and good in the air.

And, yeah, he, him for sure.

Another code hopper.

That's super interesting.

Did you, have you spoken to him at all about this move

through the process at all?

No, no, no, no.

One other one is, I guess, paid of land.

He's, I mentioned him earlier, a huge supporter of you

throughout what has been, you know,

tumultuous.

Have you heard from him after ultimately making your decision?

No, I haven't made no.

You're off to the west.

I guess the next question becomes

when we're going to see you in a force jumper.

There's sort of the seasons, you know, under way,

I guess there's going to be a lot to learn

when you're hoping to be able to pull on the blue

of the Western force and get going.

Yeah, man, we'll hopefully soon rather than later.

Obviously, being an action for a period of time now.

So, just get myself back up to speed and learning the game.

The best I can so that I can hit the ground running

when it's ready to go.

It's a super exciting story, I think,

for sports fans and rugby fans specifically.

Zach, thanks so much for your time on what's

known out a big day.

I appreciate your time.

Good on you, mate. Thank you.

Headlines, a huge development in Iran,

soccer story, five players have sought and been granted

asylum in Australia.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said,

they're athletes who want to be safe and are very grateful

that Australia is taking that opportunity.

Donald Trump has addressed the news,

posting to social media in part,

I just spoke to the Prime Minister,

Anthony Albanese of Australia.

He's on it.

Five have already been taken care of,

and the rest are on their way.

Some, however, feel they must go back

because they are worried about the safety

of their family members.

God bless Australia.

To understand how we got here,

and it's complicated and fascinating,

have a listen to our episode from yesterday

with Amanda Shalala.

She has led the coverage on this story.

It's in the feet.

On the pitch, the Matilda's,

they're going to play North Korea in the quarterfinals.

After that team was beaten by China Su-1,

there was more than a little controversy

with the winning goal of that group game

coming in first half-stoppage time.

North Korea's players,

they claimed offside in the buildup,

and through the toys right out of the cup,

refusing to play the rest of the first period.

The upshot, China, they won.

Australia will play North Korea

as a consequence, Friday, in Perth,

in a do-or-die Asian Cup quarterfinal.

AFL, where Carlson Coach Michael Voss

might be under early season pressure,

following an open-round thumping from this one.

And a surprise bake from Sam Dockety.

So how did he react to the audio of the X Club captain

suggesting nothing good has changed under the coach?

Uh, I didn't give it a hell of a lot of thought.

Um, it probably only just...

Oh, I guess people keep asking me about,

you know, last year's Best in Ferris Beach,

and, you know, culturally, we defeat ourselves.

So I just felt as an example of that.

For us to have a productive conversation,

I think we all need to know that

we're not going to get mixed between the older than you,

when you, and that's the way we're going forward.

That's actually pretty well-hound of agreement.

I'm Patrick Stack, this is ABC Sport Daily Produced by Poppy Penning.

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