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Whether Blues coach Laurie Daley goes with two Eels, one or none on Sunday night, Zac Lomax and Mitch Moses will be content they did all they could as Parramatta put a hapless Newcastle to the sword 28-6 at McDonald Jones Stadium.

In a stunning return from a six-week absence recovering from a broken foot, Lomax monstered the Knights with two tries, four goals and 271 running metres in what was effectively an 80-minute Origin audition.

Moses, whose match-winning performances for NSW last year have him in line to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves on May 28, scored Parramatta’s first try and led the Eels around the park alongside Newcastle-bound pivot Dylan Brown. 

"If I’m there, I’m there, if I’m not, I’m not,” Moses said. 

“It is what it is, and whatever way they go, they’ve got my full support, I guess, and I’ll be ready to go if called upon.” 

Like Moses, Lomax was philosophical about his chances of returning to the Origin arena having been sidelined since kicking a winning field goal for the Eels against his former club St George Illawarra on April 5. 

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Origin Audition: Mitchell Moses

“I don’t want to jump at shadows and think about things that could happen or might happen. You never know, and what will be will be,” Lomax said. 

“I’m a New South Welshman, I bleed blue, and for me, as long as that shield stays here, that’s my focus, and fingers crossed I get a nice happy call in the next couple of days, but you never know.” 

As much as he was pursuing his personal goals, Lomax said his priority was to make a successful return for the Eels and play his role as a team leader. 

“Origin’s a goal that you set at the start of every year. It’s the pinnacle of footy and you want to achieve that goal,” he said. 

“For me, I got a taste of it last year and I loved it, and everyone that’s played there just wants to go back and do it again and again. 

“We obviously haven’t started the season as we would have liked, but being one of the leaders in the team, I just want to come out and perform and help us get the two points each week. 

“We’ve been on the bottom of the ladder and that’s not where we belong, and we’ve just got to be as consistent as we can as a team.” 

Moses said the Eels, who won just one of the four games Lomax missed, fed off the high-flying winger's energy.

“He’s just a quality player. Any time you have quality players come into your team, you feel confident,” Moses said. 

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Origin audition: Zac Lomax

“Everyone grows a leg, everyone has a lot more energy, and it’s a weird thing. It probably shouldn’t be like that, but he has that effect...

“He’s a big-time player and he comes up with big moments in games, and he definitely did that tonight. Everyone just has a bit more energy, I guess, when he’s in the side.” 

Parramatta coach Jason Ryles was pleased to see his team build on their 10-0 half-time lead by converting possession and field position into points in the second half, racing away to a 28-0 advantage before conceding a late try.

Ryles, who as a NSW prop won three Origin series from 2003 to 2005, said the Blues were spoiled for choice in the backs but believed Lomax and Moses were worthy candidates. 

“The NSW team has a lot of quality players, especially in the outside backs and in the halves, which, being a New South Welshman, is great,” Ryles said. 

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The Foxx hammers Ponga

“But I won’t be surprised if those two boys are named, that’s for sure.” 

Forlorn Knights fans must have trudged out of the ground with a bittersweet taste in their mouths, having suffered through their team’s fourth straight loss on home soil. 

Brown, who is headed to Newcastle at the end of the season to begin a 10-year tenure worth a reported $13million, was one of many stars for the Eels. 

The Kiwi international scored a run-away try, almost crossed for another, his cross-field kick set up Parramatta’s first try for Moses and another kick created Lomax’s second try. 

As much as he wants to help dig the Knights out of the abyss, captain Kalyn Ponga will miss their game against Penrith at Bathurst next Saturday if selected for Queensland. 

Ponga has not been happy with his own form during Newcastle’s slump but hopes he has done enough to impress Maroons coach Billy Slater. 

“I want to be there, obviously. It’s a prestigious jersey, it’s an honour to wear that jersey, and I would love to be in that arena again,” Ponga said. 

“I have a role to play in everything as well... I’m definitely not happy with the way we’re going here [at Newcastle] and I’m in that as well. 

“Obviously I want to be winning games, it’s what I want to do, but like I said, we’ve just got to rock up every day willing to get better.”