INITIALLY, Zac Lomax could barely string two words together when NSW coach Brad Fittler called on Sunday to tell him he'd made the Blues squad.
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It's a moment the St George Illawarra centre had dreamed of for years, and when it came his emotions overwhelmed him.
The fact he got the call with his closest friends from his home town of Temora beside him, after a difficult NRL campaign where the Dragons missed finals, made it even more special.
"I didn't have his (Fittler's) number saved, it was a massive surprise," Lomax said.
"It was the best feeling ever and one you wish you could keep replaying over and over again.
"I was with my three best mates from Temora and I'm never with all of them at the same time. To have them all there when Freddie (Fittler) called me, it was a moment I'll cherish forever."
There was still one tearful phone call to come, to his parents Brad and Cheree, which has since gone viral on social media.
"It was the best feeling ever to tell mum and dad, to see the emotions on their face was something I'll never forget," he said. As you can tell dad cottoned onto it before I told them, I didn't have much of a poker face."
A standout in a disappointing season for St George Illawarra, the 21-year-old is a realistic chance of securing a NSW centre spot after injuries ruled out incumbent Tom Trbojevic and Brisbane's Kotoni Staggs.
"I'm just going into camp looking to learn as much as I can," he said.
"I just want to come in and be a sponge. To soak it all up and learn as much as I possibly can to take back to my game and be the best player and teammate I can for the Dragons. I want to see how the big names in the game prepare for games, and take a leaf out of their book. If I can do that I'll walk out of camp a really happy man."
I didn't have (Fittler's) number saved, it was a massive surprise
- Zac Lomax
Lomax has already had a front row seat to Fittler's at times whacky coaching methods after playing under him with the Blues under-18s.
"I've been pretty lucky to experience his little quirks and how he goes about things, but he's a good coach and I've definitely learned a lot from him," Lomax said.
"His funny traits are good. They work wonders to be honest and the thing is everyone buys into it, which is the main thing when you bring different things into the group. One that sticks out is taking your footy boots off after the game and getting a feel for the grass. I enjoy it, it's something different and brings a bit of laughter and a good vibe to the crew."
Lomax completed a training session with fellow Blues squad members Cameron McInnes, Tyson Frizell and Jake Trbojevic on Tuesday.
He said he picked the brain of Dragons teammate Frizell, who will join Newcastle next year, on what to expect in camp.
"I spoke to Frizz a while ago now, I asked him what it was like first coming into camp," he said.
"He just said he competed on every play and didn't stop. He said it's a different beast, which you expect.
"I'll look to bring energy."
