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Melbourne Storm have come under heavy fire from rival clubs over their pursuit of Zac Lomax.

One club boss even declared at Wednesday’s chief executives’ conference that Lomax’s decision to quit Parramatta was no different to when Sonny Bill Williams walked out on the Bulldogs.

It came to a head when Storm chief executive Justin Rodski faced significant backlash as he tried to make a case why Lomax should be allowed to join his third club in as many years.

I’m told rival club bosses in attendance were unanimous that the NRL must back the Eels and not allow Lomax to join the Storm in 2026 unless it is done with Parramatta’s full blessing.

South Sydney’s Blake Solly made a particularly good point when he likened Lomax’s decision to quit Parramatta with three years remaining on his contract to when SBW controversially exited Canterbury in 2008.

Let’s remember Sonny Bill was out of the game for five years before he returned with the Roosters in 2013.

Gorden Tallis was another player who had to sit out a season during the Super League War when he left St George for the Broncos.

But now there are calls to let Lomax back immediately, regardless of if the Eels oppose it, just because the rebel rugby comp R360 fell over.

It absolutely stinks.

No one is saying Lomax should not be allowed to go off and have a crack at rugby either in Australia or overseas if that is his desire.

But if the NRL surrender on this then they may as well rip up every contract and make it a free-for-all for any player (or their agent) who want to wiggle out of an existing deal down the track if the grass looks greener elsewhere.

It would also infuriate fans across the game to see Lomax turn up at a top club like the Storm this year on a reduced salary.

And while Rodski argued during Wednesday’s meeting that the Storm wouldn’t have an issue if another club wanted to sign Ryan Papenhuyzen, the big difference is the Storm didn’t put any conditions in Papenhuyzen’s release.

Parramatta did.

The condition stipulated was that Lomax could not play for another NRL club until 2029 unless the Eels grant him permission to do so.

The mail is the Eels might be willing to release Lomax provided they get the right deal in return.

Jack Howarth’s name has been mentioned as part of a potential swap, while the suggestion is the Eels would also want some money on top of that.

Otherwise, it could end up in legal stoush some want to suggest could be a restraint of trade.

This is where the clubs want the NRL to back Parra to the hilt if that eventuates.

What also makes the case against letting Lomax back immediately even stronger was comments from R360 boss Mike Tindall this week.

Tindall was quoted in The Australian saying R360 “didn’t target anyone”.

“NRL players and their agents approached us,” Tindall said.

“We didn’t go after them. We’re a rugby union competition.”

If what Tindall says is true, it suggests this was either masterminded by Lomax _ or his agent _ who approached R360, knowing Lomax still had three years to run on his existing Parramatta deal.

Taking that into account, I can’t believe the game is even considering letting him back in 2026.

Surely Lomax needs to take accountability for his actions, or he should take it up with his agent Clinton Schifcofske.

But the NRL cannot possibly abandon Parramatta and their fans, while giving a rival club as powerful as the Storm a leg-up.

And it wouldn’t matter if it was the Storm, the Tigers or the Broncos.

Surely a contract must stand for something in our game.

The NRL is hoping the Storm and the Eels can come to a resolution and work out a deal that is acceptable for both clubs.

But if that doesn’t happen, Lomax should not be allowed back any time soon.

Even though R360 is on the backburner for now, there is every chance it could remerge following the Rugby World Cup at the end of 2027.

The NRL has talked tough with its threat of 10-year bans.

The time has come to walk the walk.