Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos has urged fans to keep backing the judgment of Jason Ryles after the Eels coach emerged as the key figure in the decision to sever ties with Zac Lomax.
The Eels confirmed on Sunday that they had agreed to release Lomax from the final three years of his contract, with the NSW and Australian winger expected to switch codes and eventually sign with rebel rugby union competition R360.
There have been whispers he will spend time in Japanese rugby before then. He has, however, likely played his last game in the NRL after the Eels decided they were better served spending their money on a player who was fully committed to the club. Ultimately, club bosses made the call in consultation with Ryles.
“He (Lomax) made it clear he wanted to pursue opportunities elsewhere,” Sarantinos said. “There’s obviously been that connection with R360. I really don’t know where that is at. I have no idea. “But he came forward to us and he asked if we would consider releasing him early. The main stakeholder in this is the coach. He’s been pretty decisive and strong around decisions he has made in regards to personnel.”
“I think the view was that if we have a player whose focus may be elsewhere and the opportunities came to exit that situation sooner rather than later, and it gives you an opportunity to strengthen your roster somewhere else, why not do that.”
“It’s not something we have been planning for the long term. But obviously we’ll look internally, we’ll look at who is available and we will look at the balance of the roster.”
Lomax’s departure is expected to strengthen the Eels’ bid to sign South Sydney and Kangaroos forward Keaon Koloamatangi, who came on the market on November 1. The Rabbitohs are fighting hard to keep Koloamatangi, but whispers are growing louder that he has had his head turned by Parramatta.
When asked whether he was surprised that Lomax had decided to leave, having fought so hard to get out of his deal at St George Illawarra to move to the Eels, Sarantinos said: “I don’t think you sign any player for four years and expect that 12 months into the contract they are going to be looking at other opportunities. Things change. When we signed Zac, Brad (Arthur) was coach. We probably didn’t expect that would be the situation. Now we have Rylesy in place and he’s been pretty clear with all the decisions he has made around personnel.”
It is understood that a transfer fee has been included as one of the conditions of Lomax’s release from his contract. The size of the release fee remains a closely guarded secret - this masthead was told it was a significant figure.
If Lomax is R360 bound, they will need to stump up plenty of cash to secure his signature for their inaugural competition in October next year.
Not that money appears to be an issue. Nor do the 10-year bans that have been threatened by the NRL for players who join the breakaway league.
They certainly don’t appear to have affected Lomax’s decision.
“I have no idea what R360’s strategy is,” Sarantinos said. “Are they looking to tear the NRL apart or are they looking to pick and choose NRL players. I don’t know how much of a deterrent the bans from the NRL will play. For some players it will be a major deterrent. For other players it may not matter.”
Replies
Wizzy, I've never had a harem or even fantasized about one. Maybe that should be our secret weapon? Problem is it's likely to end even worse than it did for us during the Dark Ages: in jail with someone like Puff Daddy. Just ask The Don about Epstein and emails.
Coryn, understandable frustration mate and enjoy the coffee and jersey. Sounds as if you're with the right crowd and in the know.
Are the RU guys into the NRL as well? At least we're not behind more pay-walls than Alcatraz could manage.
I used to really enjoy watching international RU many years ago. Loved it. RU is far more technical and cerebral. It's hard core as JR noted and he spoke highly of the game in that Cooper/Matty interview. But it was interesting how he felt it was difficult for forwards in particular (even Richie McCaw who is a great I admire) to transition to RL. What turns me off about RU beside the inaccessibility is where games are quite often won on penalities and goal-kicking. A side can score 4 tries to 1 and still lose. A head shaker.
PS: I really like Matt Cameron and have listened to endless hours of him talk on podcasts and videos (same with Ponisi). And who knows the future. The thing is: imagine the blowback we'd give the club if we hired as CEO or MG a former long-time woodwork teacher who didn't want to stay in coaching because it didn't offer him the stable pay-cheque of teaching, and he didn't feel being a business-owner-leader like his dad was for him. For than matter I reckon we'd also have an issue hiring Shane Elford as GM or CEO.
It's just connections here the guy I know used to play rugby at the same club as I did and his father was the coach of the hurricanes 15 odd years ago when we were playing club rugby and now he's followed in his old man's footsteps.
Mills is the S & C coach at the hurricanes now and his connection with my friend is through his oldman and there both from Taranaki here in NZ.I just got a few guys I know who are in the high performance space coaching and playing some have retired now a certain AB hooker who again played at the club whose just recently finished up.
Parra really need to be targeting the first 15 space here in NZ to beef up there pathways as I know for sure the recruitment deals the nrl offer NZR can't match.
An example of this is a guy I mentioned a few months ago who was a union first 15 star here and got picked up by the Warriors and is now on the books at Penrith Toby Crosby.That space mentioned is ripe to be pillaged outside of the obvious favourite I have in Fiji.
Its one of the big reasons I dislike how we are building we are just way to insular.My mate whose the hurricanes attack coach is a dogs fan we ream one another daily about any sport we support nrl nba nfl epl any sport absolutely shred one another online then meet up every month for a beer and a laugh.
The info and word around r360 are from my mates agent who basically has told all his clients to go into a holding pattern sign nothing longer than 12 months or see out current deals to see how the landscape pans out.He's mentioned that r360 is going to happen no doubt about it but there just waiting to see how it all plays out before you see a full commitment from players and coaches.He thinks once it does get off the ground nrl super are in big trouble because the r360 pockets are deep and with the tax advantages being mentioned it's money players will never earn again in there lifetime.
The subjectiveness hasn't changed Snotties perceptions of their abilities as players are very different to mine. One was picked to play Origin and for Australia (I believed he played the back end injured) and belies the end of season performances from Lomax by Snottie. He pulled out of the Australian side because of that injury.
Brown get's to play for NZ and wins the "golden boot" I was convinced Brown had burn't out in 2025 and stand by this opinion and rate his NZ form on the freshen up between the end of the season proper and the commencement of the Pacific Championships.
In no way am I supporting DB for his 2025 form for Parra, I don't believe what Ryles said about him not spitting the dummy. I believe he did and for reasons that I covered.
So the discussion has become circular where we can agree to disagree based on opinions.
A question I want answered is how do you see this year evolving for Parra based on the team we put on the field, given the players we have.
Another question would be that lets say RC360 flops and doesn't proceed, conditions for Lomax is he can only play for Parra within the confines of his initial 4 year deal.
Would anyone not want him back.....we assume the front office and coaching staff will because they would not have had that included in the exodus contract.
Opinions please!
Dylan Brown is a drunk touching prick. Ryles is smart and he is kicking the dead wood that doesn't need to be in the team.
Ryles didn't want Brown , if he did he wouldn't have point blank denied him even $1 pay rise when he requested it. People forget that Brown asked for a payrise long before the Newcastle offer appeared. If Ryles wanted him at the club there would've been a negotiation before he fielded the offer elsewhere. But there wasn't , it was a big fat nope, you're not getting a cent more , champ.
Lomax is picked in Origin because hes a big body who excels in bringing the ball out of yardage which is perfect for Origin. Hes not a bad player. Hes a great athlete who can make something from nothing. Having said that, he wants to play centre where he is atrocious . It takes away the best strengths from his game. He's also extremely slow, can't keep up with short side attacking raids and his defence is ordinary to below ordinary. Matty Johns has highlighted many times how Slater exploits him at Origin level and it happened a lot at club level. Sometimes he had the athletic anility to save himslef, often he didnt. He wasnt commited to becomming the best winger and essentially the best player he can be. For his strengths he was far from the complete winger. We will miss him in some areas and benefit from him not being there in others. On top of that we have 700k extra in our cap.
As for Dylan Brown. he was exceptional for the kiwis. A side that had a rampaging pack that was rolling down the field and dominating possession . His job was simple. The real test of him as a player will be going to Newcastle and finding his role within that side. We know from experience here he wont be the conductor of the attack, its also unlikley his pack is smashing the opposition and his thought process will be so clear. Hes shown with us an inability to know how to impact games and how he can add to an attack if his running game isnt given space. We've had this problem with him for 6 years. Its expected when youre young but when you put your hand up for million dollar + contracts the expectation on you goes through the roof. I dont think he will ever live up to the expectations and that contract is going to hang around the Knights neck for a decade. Im not sure what Parra was to do here. Theres no way im topping up or adding years to his contract when theres already 6 in front of him and he wasted 2 of them.
I see the year as another year of growth. I think we're starting the year off a much higher base than 2025. Players have more clarity about their roles in the system and whats required of them. Theres no reason why we shouldnt be competiive every game . That will get us playing in high stakes games which is part of the journey for the young players in our squad. As I said above , when the league knows you as a young squad making strides you can attract talent more within their proper value range. Paying overs now may slighlty help the short term but we'll get to a point where it hinders us going further. A young , improving squad with cap space is an exciting place to be . I dont get the doom and gloom around here.
The coaching staff dont want Lomax back and his money will be spent.
Your not starting at higher place purely because you've lost better talent than what your replacing it with which is undecided at the moment in Lomax's case and your starting again adding a new combinations on the left and right side.
Guess what your doing the samething in 27 on the left side also.
That's what's going to define this season how quickly we can get these new combinations upto speed in attack and defense.
Browns a miles better defender than Pezet ever will be so that'll be something to keep an eye on when teams isolate him.
The worse thing about losing DB is all he really needed was a structure that helped him consistency in selection and those to do there jobs around him and I bet we would have seen different player,even JR mentioned this early in the season which I see fans completely missed.You saw this 19-22 but funnily enough fans round here judge his talent off of the disaster that happend the last 2 seasons.
Lomax was picked for SoO because it was deemed he was the best player for NSW could have in the desired position.If you think replacing Simonsson with Lomax and we are in a better position you've got rocks in your head.As for the yardage comment who you got in our back 5 now that scares opposition coming out of yardage exactly.How are we better in one of the most important aspects of the modern game.
The system JR is going to run isn't covering up that crack unless they intend playing touch footy bringing the ball out.Right now if you ask me if you want to blunt us kick early chase hard and just bash whoever because there's no fear or threat there of a guy whose finding his front doubles up in yardage gets quick play the balls rolls opposing defensive lines that's what we've lost.We haven't a replacement on the horizon for that.For me losing Lomax is the worse of the 2 guys to lose purely because of what he brought.
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
-
13
of 13 Next