CONFIRMED: Storm asked NRL to bully Eels into Lomax deal

Explosive courtroom documents obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that the Melbourne Storm asked the NRL to "apply the blow torch" to Parramatta to release Zac Lomax.

A slew of documents released in the Supreme Court revealed that during a phone call between Storm chair Matt Tripp and Eels supremo Matthew Beach on January 13, that the Eels again rejected a $200,000 release fee.

“During the telephone call, Mr Tripp referred to the possibility of punitive steps being taken by the NRL against Parramatta Eels in relation to its salary cap if Parramatta Eels did not agree to the proposal being put forward by the Melbourne Storm,” according to a document the Eels tendered to the court.

“This assertion by the Melbourne Storm was intended or had the tendency to exert pressure on the Parramatta Eels in circumstances where the NRL had never communicated such a stance to the Parramatta Eels.”

It was further revealed that an alleged text from Storm CEO Justin Rodski to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on January 21 was used to try and have the NRL pressure the Eels into a release.

“Hi Andrew, not getting anywhere at this point, can you apply the blow torch on parramatta [sic] to get this done.

Rodski added: “Lomax staying in the NRL is obviously a win for the game.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-asked-nrl-to-apply-the-blow-torch-to-get-lomax-transfer-done-20260213-p5o224.html

It's what we always suspected. The Storm trying to bully their way into a deal that would favour them. They should be expelled from the competition.

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    • "If the NRL is a genuine impartial organisation"...good joke you put in there Eelvo

    • 1EE members need to start a fan led petition across all fans to remove Vlandys

      Agreed. Let's wait on court then start a blog for tactics,and submissions

  • WOW!!!

    So Tripp is now the consigliere  for the vlandys/abdo mafia?

    No...wait up, I got that arse about...“Hi Andrew, not getting anywhere at this point, can you apply the blow torch on parramatta [sic] to get this done....Blandys/Abdo are the hit-squad for the Tripp criminal enterprize.

    Finally we know where we stand, our assigned role. We are to sit in the corner and give thanks for the scraps we are thrown while Tripp wets his beak with our roster. "Hey Andy, bring our blowtorch over, we're not getting anywhere with this reluctant one here. Let's get this done (it's obviously a win for us). We can go celebrate at Kens of Kensington with Petey for afters party. (Storm will pick up the Tab)

    I wonder which other of the clubs has access to The Blowtorch? Who else is "connected" to the family business?

    Hey Pop-Pop, am I still over-the-top in stating that Ugly Pete and Abdo gots to go?. They were obviously neck deep in this. So we hit them straight & sideways: Court, Leak & Bleat. It's working, we just have to not flinch

    The ONLY reason anyone ever got to find this out is because Messrs Beach & Sarantinos have both Spine and Guts intact and they are having none of it. They correctly saw this as a fight for our future premiership chances and are doing Elliot Ness proud.

    Oneway Tripp, Bugsy Abdo and fucking Ugly Pete are Made Men and Untouchable. Our valiant fighters Jim, Matt, Arthurs sc and everyone who leaks and bleats in public are fitting them for some Blue Circle boots to help them sleep with the fishes.

    If heads don't roll over this it shows that our game is run by Aussie Vince McMahon and we are all in WWE already

  • It's one thing to ask for a certain favour but it's even worse on the NRL if they actually went through with the request.

    Especially when the whole agreement had apparently been registered with the NRL.

  • Corruption at its finest. It looks like that text message worked because the NRL were going to  register that contract, don't ask me how when Lomax already signed a release contract with the Eels. 

    • We know the Storm lodged a contract notice of some kind in the NRL portal, but is there any further indication the NRL were going to permit or allow Lomax to be contracted by the Storm?

    • Anal, did that msg give you the impression that this was a first time call for  Blowtorchery?

      When vlandys ran to grab it the fucking thing was still warm

       

      • Nope, you could say the same phone call was made by Penrith to delay May's suspension till the next season. Is it making sense now?

        • Yes you are right :(

          fact they felt comfortable enough to suggest this to the nrl proves alot to me too :(

          collusion and favouritism is real in their two 'seperate divisions'  in comp. Parra will always have their most resilient fans regardless...maybe others without their bucket loads of extra cash and wins might not perhaps.🤷🏻‍♀️

          • I posted a comment on here about me not believing that Vlandys could be so "ham fisted" in his public statement's. I am not sure if he has a PR firm looking after him, but this exercise is going to require a lot of manouvering to get out of? He hasn't made himself "linked" to Abdo's texting (but the similar wording is damning), so it will be interesting to see if Abdo becomes the sacrificial lamb......by reputation and inference Vlandy/s is not a popular man in Victoria, it will be interesting also if Melb don't throw him to the wolves in the process to save their own necks (somehow).

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MeelK replied to SuperEel 22's discussion CONFIRMED: Storm asked NRL to bully Eels into Lomax deal
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