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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  • 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).

            • Well poppa it's good the truth is out there for all to see regardless. Im sure you are disappointed to see how this has played out to prove the NRL has not stood up for whats completely right and has acted in favour of these disgusting bullies, who probably always get their way in the past and almost did again but for our firm stand and taking this to court for clarification. As mentioned before with yourself, we would never have had to go to court for clarification if the NRL supported what was right and indicated that to storm. They did go along with storms pleas to try and sign him to storm and that has been proven by their media rhetoric. Disgusting ain't it?

              like I've always felt and said , this is as much us vs Lomax and storm as it is us v nrl imo

            • No, he won't be weazling his way out of this - he's in it up to his eyeballs. We've well and truly shone a torch light on the dodgy deals and preferential treatment that we knew was happening, but just couldn't prove it. It's fantastic.

  • We are taking on a Cabal...we need allies in this fight and the coming revelations are how we gather them

This reply was deleted.

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