The Canberra Raiders have used their annual Forever Green match at GIO Stadium Canberra tonight against the Eels to officially announce two more members into the Club's Hall of Fame.
John Lomax (Raider #148) and David Westley (Raider #156) were inducted pre-match at GIO Stadium Canberra in front of a host of past Raiders players at the annual Forever Green game.
Both Lomax and Westley were key members of the 1994 Premiership winning squad, with Westley coming off the bench in the Grand Final. Lomax missed the Grand Final that season due to suspension but played a pivotal role in the premiership winning season in the front row.
The duo joins a host of former teammates in the Raiders Hall of Fame, which now includes 31 former players and coaches of the club.
CLICK HERE for the full list of Raiders Hall of Fame inductees and the Hall of Fame criteria.
John Lomax
John Lomax - Raider #148
Player: 1993 - 1996
65 First Grade Appearances for Raiders - 3 Tries, 1 Goal for 14 Points
John Lomax came to Canberra from New Zealand in 1993 after being scouted by Tim Sheens (along with close mate Quentin Pongia) following impressive performances for the New Zealand Māori side.
Sheens was desperate to add strength and aggression in the front row, with his recruitment masterstroke ultimately unveiling a ‘Kiwi duo’ who soon became one of the most feared front-row pairings rugby league had ever seen.
In only his second season at the Club, Lomax’s aggressive style of play was instrumental in seeing the Green Machine progress all the way to the grand final. Unfortunately, John was sent off in Canberra's preliminary final win over Norths for a high tackle, and he missed the following week’s grand final.
John’s one-match suspension was a cruel blow for the man himself, however immediately after the Raiders' win over the Bulldogs (36-12), teammates were quick to involve him in premiership celebrations as they knew he had played a significant part in the season’s success in which he played 23 matches.
Lomax’s impressive 1994 season was recognised at the Club’s season ending presentation event, where he collected both the ‘Best Player’ and ‘Player of the Year’ awards.
During his playing career at the Canberra Raiders which only lasted four seasons, Lomax represented New Zealand on 14 occasions.
David Westley
David Westley - Raider #156
Player: 1993 - 1999
98 First Grade Appearances for Raiders - 7 Tries, 28 Points
David Westley is a proud Papua New Guinea (PNG) representative who was lured to Canberra by Raiders master Head Coach Tim Sheens in 1993. The previous season he had declined a contract offer by the Raiders, preferring to stay in Queensland at the time.
Sheens’ perseverance in securing the U19’s Queensland representative however was little wonder; Westley was a highly talented forward with an impressive build and much athleticism.
Westley initially moved to Queanbeyan and lived in the Club’s group house at Seiffert Oval, the ‘Taj Mahal’ as it was affectionately known, and quickly set about impressing his teammates and coaches.
Not much of a talker himself, he was an avid listener who prided himself on working hard. By the end of the 1993 season, he had collected the coveted ‘Raiders Rookie of the Year’ award.
Many players have encountered ‘second year syndrome’, but not David, a recipient of a NSWRL Premiership Medal in 1994. Tim Sheens only used 15 players in the Raiders’ grand final win over the Bulldogs (36-12), with Westley coming off the bench in a star-studded line-up.
By the time David’s career had ended at the Green Machine, he had represented at first grade level on nearly 100 occasions, and was well established in the PNG national side, with which he first played in, at the World Cup in England in 1995.
