‘The players deserve it’: Ex-Dragon Zac Lomax emotional after golden point field goal sinks Red V

Clint Gutherson’s return to Parramatta was almost picture perfect but a heroic revenge victory was stolen by a stellar golden point field goal from Zac Lomax.

Lomax leveled the scores when he slotted a penalty goal from 43m out after Jack de Belin was pinged for a high tackle with just five minutes of regular time remaining.

With neither team able to nail a field goal, the game entered a golden battle thriller which was placed in immediate control of the Eels.

“I’m just super proud of the boys,” a teary Lomax told Fox Sports post-match.

“We’ve put in so much effort. To win a game in front of our home crowd – the fans deserve it, the players deserve it, it was really fun.

“I’ve just seen so much effort and courage from so many of the young players in our team. That was the disappointing thing about the start of the year – so much effort and so much growth.

“There is so much potential here, we just need to stick at it.”

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For Gutherson, the loss was a sour ending to what was an impressive display by the Dragons at CommBank Stadium on Saturday.

The veteran star was met by a mixed reception as he ran out at his former home ground, but the ex-Eels skipper wasted no time sending a clear warning to his old teammates.

The 30-year-old found early revenge in front of his former supporters as he broke through three tackles to score under the posts.

Parramatta were left scrambling to restructure their line as Gutherson received the ball from Valentine Holmes, who had darted through the ruck after a late de Belin offload.

“Some would say the King is back on his throne,” Fox League caller Matt Russell said.

“He only knows one way and that’s straight through,” Kevin Walters added.

Josh Addo-Carr hit back to put the Eels back in front, with the host having slotted an early penalty goal in the sixth minute, as he dived over in the corner to score.

The veteran winger added an eighth try assist of the season to his name as he ignited a sweeping play to the left wing to put Christian Tuipulotu over the line.

Tuipulotu’s efforts put his team ahead by six points at half time as Valentine Holmes slotted a penalty goal courtesy of an obstruction call against Shaun Lane.

Gutherson ignited an electric attacking play on the stroke of half time but after handing the ball of to Tyrell Sloan, who was taken to ground, the former King of Parramatta found himself at the centre of a sideline scuffle.

Parramatta’s Sean Russell was the man Gutherson exchanged some words with before the pair pushed each other away and walked down the tunnel.

Still, the incident was no concern for Gutherson as he darted over again to open the scoring in the final 40.

Meanwhile, things looked to be going out of favour for Lomax in his first revenge match.

The former Dragons centre was met by a chorus of boos from rival supporters each time he touched the ball in the opening 20 minutes.

But Lomax’s strong kicking game was exactly what Parramatta needed to save them from a fifth consecutive defeat as he nailed a field goal from 30m out to win.

Earlier, Dragons duo Dean Hawkins and Will Penisini found themselves in hot water in the 44th minute after referee Gerard Sutton pinged the pair for an ugly tackle on Luciano Leilua.

Hawkins was reported for hitting Leilua high in the tackle attempt while Penisini will await to learn his fate for a hip drop.

Leilua appeared to struggle with a leg injury as he returned to his feet but did not leave the field for any treatment.