The Melbourne Storm have failed with a fresh bid to sign rugby union renegade Zac Lomax for next season in a move which would have paved the way for Jack Howarth to join Parramatta.
Sport Confidential can reveal that the Storm were given the green light to sign Lomax by Parramatta, who still hold the rights to the former NSW and Australian player for another 12 months.
Howarth would then have moved to the Eels as part of the deal but it fell over when the Storm were told that Lomax had no desire to break his contract with the Western Force and was committed to another year in rugby union.
The latest bid to woo Lomax came only six months after the Storm were involved in talks to bring him to Melbourne, only for the deal to fall over when Parramatta dug in their heels.
At the time, Parramatta were only willing to release Lomax if they got a player in return - they identified Howarth as one of their options.
The Storm weren’t willing to release Howarth at the time but the versatile centre’s future in Melbourne hangs in the balance again after the club gave his management permission to explore his options.
The Eels emerged as a potential home but Melbourne aren’t willing to release Howarth unless they find a suitable replacement. Lomax emerged as an option but the Storm’s hopes of landing the dual-code star hit a roadblock. Lomax scored two tries in seven appearances for the Force this season but a calf injury meant he was not considered when a 37-man squad was named for the July Test series. His ultimate goal remains to crack the Wallabies squad for next year’s World Cup, which will be played in Australia.
Melbourne, meanwhile, have already signed Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri for next season but are far from finished as they look to regenerate their squad and rebound from a season which looks destined to end with no finals football for the first time in more than a decade.
Along with Howarth, back rower Joe Chan could also be on the move at the end of the year.
Replies
Parra should show some love to Lomax & have him return to prove he is one of the games elite playes.
With Jerome signing for next season & the rumoured return of Semi Radradra & the courting of Burton & Spencer Parra could field their best teams in many years.
1. Iongi
2. Fox
3. Lomax
4. Burton
5. Sami
6. Laui
7. Moses
8. Spencer
9. TDS
10. Tuivati
11. SuA
12. Williams
13. Hopgood
If All healthy Fit injury free & signed 2027 should be a good year for the 80 years in the premiership
Lomax Burton and Semi 😂 Fark your optimistic too much social media watch in this team list.
Semi was the best winger I've ever seen. I wonder how an older Semi is going? Anyone know how he's doing in Rugby
Running over Japanese rugby players?
Semi has literally said he is done with league, so I don't get why some keep bringing up Semi (aside from the obvious 'wouldn't it be cool').
where did you read about semi lol
So Burton will leave Dogs to play Centre where he is already playing?
Radradra at his age being out of League that long? No thanks.
I thought the Dogs were the ones trying to move him along ? Not him wanting to move for positional reasons ?
Why would he come to Parra at all other then money or years ?
Stop eating fruit loops for breakfast.
There is no problem with fruit loops for brekky. Just can't BE a fruit loop
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