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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            • Yes! Hoe, I don't think I've ever been this proud of our clubs actions! 

              guess Lomax made a huge mistake confusing our 'kindness' with stupidity' or allowing ourselves to be treated like trash by storm or in fact a complete push over by NRL! 

              good on us no matter how this rolls. Club have stood up for whats completely right for their fans 💛💙

              • Macy, we may not have billionaire benefactors who can conjure up a PLV-approved $17m roster that somehow fits in a $12m cap. But our unity and alignment up top speak volumes.

                And as the saying goes, compassion and kindness should never be mistaken for weakness.

                • Too right Hoe!!

                • Yep, it's definitely harder to act with with compassion, but the rewards are great if you stick with it and maintain integrity. This is the making of Parra. This is how we win. Not through dodgy deals but with integrity and doing what is right.

    • On FB, they posted the story but have turned off the comments 🤣🤣🤣

      • ... And so Analyst here's comes the brakes

        Or this article by SEN which apparently seemed to feel Tripp's disgusting words re actions to our Salary Cap was totally unworthy to include

        https://apple.news/Akj_SxP6jTOy8UQ0GzDY2Vg

        • That's OK Mace, this will grow it's own legs

          • Caterpillar's amount I reckon ;)

  • In Arthur Moses, we trust

This reply was deleted.

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