As per the SMH's Adrian Proszenko
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-dragged-into-lomax-legal-stoush-against-eels-20260225-p5o5am.html
The NRL has been dragged into the Zac Lomax legal stoush after Parramatta issued an urgent subpoena to obtain documents relating to head office’s involvement in the matter.
The Eels enjoyed a mini victory ahead of next week’s hearing by ensuring Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp has to testify in person, rather via video link. Now lawyers acting for the blue and golds have requested the NRL to hand over all information relating to its involvement in the Lomax saga.
Parramatta powerbrokers privately believe the NRL has sided with Melbourne in the matter.
Parties are normally given two weeks to comply with subpoena requests, but the NRL will be required to provide materials to the court by Friday. There is then expected to be legal argument on Monday as to whether they are admissible at the hearing.
In explosive documents tendered to the Supreme Court, it was revealed Storm chief executive Justin Rodski allegedly sent a text message to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo stating: “Hi Andrew, not getting anywhere at this point, can you apply the blow torch on parramatta [sic] to get this done.”
According to a document tendered to the court by the Eels: “This message was an attempt to use the NRL to place pressure on the Parramatta Eels to resolve the matter on terms acceptable to the Melbourne Storm.
“During negotiations, this communication was not disclosed by the Melbourne Storm to the Parramatta Eels. It is not known whether any other communications have occurred between the NRL and the Melbourne Storm concerning the placing of pressure or otherwise on the Parramatta Eels to accept offers made by the Melbourne Storm.”
Replies
Guess if he says he didn't, it might be just a smartarse way of saying there's nothing evidentury tho :(
we all know he would've responded to that rubbish ...perhaps in a phone call.
Agree, it is more like of a command of a superior to his offsider to do the instruction he had given. Just the tone of the message is so disrespectful to Abdo considering he is the NRL administrator and the executive of one of the teams, which is supposed to be under him, is giving him orders to follow. I also can't see the word 'please'.
Haha!
Or at least '10 4 good buddy'
Hope the NRL don't get back at us by giving IONGI a long sentence.
Well they set their own precedent with giving Latrell 1 game, Smith has gotten nothing, Radley was only suspended by his own club. Mam got 10 weeks for nearly killing people.
So they have no leg to stand on as people will know what they are doing. Considering Iongi has not been arrested and the substance is unknown. We all know what it is but no proof.
If they are to suspend him 1 game max will go down better.
Let's just hope that the SC isn't in the pocket of any of the unusual suspects. I mean you would seriously think not but in this day and age anything is possible
This! This is how you 'apply the blowtorch'.
Well played Mr Moses SC
Got to finish the job here.
We are in a favourable position i wouldn't like to see us lose a such open and shut case.
Thats the key here the club getting the result and finishing the job.
Treating it as an open and shut case is a dangerous assumption, when you are dealing with restraints and equity courts.
I suspect we'll win, technically, but it is far more likely to be read down. That is even if we acted in good faith and with clean hands and Lomax didn't; my personal take is we have at all times.
A full win, meaning a three year NRL wide exclusion through to the 2029 contract window, would be Houdini level stuff. Miracle work. If anyone could, it'd be Arthur Moses SC.
A full win might become plausible if the Eels genuinely did or still do want him back, and if it could be shown that Lomax never intended to return and merely manufactured the appearance of doing so. Then our restraint is not NRL-wide anymore and we're protecting our interests.
That's just the info I'm getting talking to an experienced equity lawyer.
Barnett from the Warriors opens up an interesting scenario. Warriors could take Lomax today and we get Barnett. If Lomax refuses then he has zero chance of claiming that he's being restrained. If I'm Parra I'm already trying to put this deal together for 2026.
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