League legend Andrew Johns has cautioned new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan against shifting $800,000 star Zac Lomax to the wing. Lomax has been selected on the flank for Saturday's season-opening clash with Gold Coast. While the 24-year-old has been a centre by trade throughout his NRL career, and had designs on moving into a playmaking position, either at fullback or five-eighth, Flanagan has opted to go the other way. Reports on Thursday claimed the switch has left Lomax disgruntled and potentially on the verge of requesting a release. While Johns can't speak to Lomax's mindset, the eighth Immortal believes Lomax is still best suited to playing centre. "The Lomax one surprises me, because at right centre he's generally the one who can pull something out," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour. "Modern day wingers are just like front-rowers, they're just coming out of trouble (running the ball from kick returns), running from dummy-half or trying to get the sets rolling forward. "Lot of rumours and talk that he's not happy on the wing. Last year there was talk he was going to play five-eighth, so going from five-eighth to the wing... it would be difficult. I imagine Zac wants to play centre or fullback. "It's hard to make strong judgement unless you're inside and know what's going on inside the club. "Shane Flanagan is an experienced coach, so there must be some reason why he's doing it. But, personally, I'd be having Zac at right centre. "Jack Bird is there, but he's had a horrendous run of injuries with his knees. I see Jack more as a backrower these days. "From the outside looking in I'd have Zac in the centres and Jack Bird in the backrow." The Dragons narrowly avoided the wooden spoon last year and sacked coach Anthony Griffin amid a horror campaign. Flanagan - who led Cronulla to a premiership in 2016 - has already said it will take some time to rebuild the team into a finals contender. Johns believes they may need a marquee signing to help them. "I think they are rebuilding, everyone can see they're rebuilding," Johns said. "Newcastle was in this position for so long, and it wasn't until they landed Kalyn (Ponga)... that it all started to change. "But to get that world-class player they're going to have to pay overs. They've got to build from within, they've got that strong junior nursery down there on the south coast."
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