Storm chairman Matt Tripp took aim at Parramatta for what he saw as deliberately taking the dispute public, accusing the club of running to the media to control the narrative around the Zac Lomax saga. Tripp suggested the Eels chose headlines over resolution, portraying Lomax and Melbourne as acting in bad faith while ignoring the broader context — including the fact Parramatta would have gained adequate compensation for a player who had already vacated the club.
Tripp said Melbourne attempted to handle the matter quietly and professionally, offering compensation to avoid escalation, only for Parramatta to harden its stance and air the issue publicly. In his view, the decision to brief the media and frame the Storm as "villains" was unnecessary and misleading, turning a solvable contractual dispute into a drawn-out public fight that Parramatta itself helped inflame.
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I'd continue the public awareness verbal-judo strategy pointing out Melbourne refused to release the Fox on compassionate grounds unless a fair player swap happened — for years until the Fox's contract expired.
This bloke should be a politican with his BS spin. Parrmatta signed Pezet before they released Lomax, Pezet first signed a 3 year contract with the Broncos staring in 2027 than signed 1 year with the eels for this season, nothing to do with Lomax. Parra signed Brian Kelly after Lomax was released. Stay strong Parra, take Lomax to court.
Of course they wanted the matter handled quietly and professionally. To the storm, this means, let us dictate what is going to happen and you losers just sit there and let us have our way.
They're shocked that the Eels have not only stood up to them, but actually stitched them up in such a professional manner that they're resorting to a weak, public outcry, gaslighting us by stating we're trying to play this out in the media.
Nice try dickhead. We all see the storm for what they are, cheating grubs. I hope we absolutely nail them in court.
Lol low balling offers for an international winger at Parras expense yer sure stick to it Parra don't be pushed around by this mob
That's hilarious! Obviously the club is doing something right here. Melbourne are used to getting their own way and it's not working, which is frustrating them. Parra have been clear about what they are after, but Melbourne refuse to come to the table. It couldn't be simpler.
Storm wanting to pay $200K in compensation for an Australian Representative player and calling that professional, when they refused the Fox's release on compassionate grounds wanting a like for like player for years.
The Bulldogs paid a $500,000 transfer fee to the Broncos for Karl Oloapu, a teenager who at that stage hadn't made his NRL debut.
Unbelivable Hypocracy and disrespect from the Storm towards the Eels. Round 1 is going to be crazy.
Only thing that worries me is how "adequate compensation " is translated.
fact they have just upped their financial offer to us kinda seems what they are hinging on re wording...making seem like they are trying to persuade us thru greater financial gain being more 'adequate'
i know it's not what we want and we've named players for swap but Im worried about the wording being a little ambiguous and sure hope Im very wrong on that.
I've always said the only good thing about about Melbourne is the Hume Hwy coming out of it bash it upya storm wankers
Haha feels good doesn't it! Im surprised they haven't dropped the idea ...of course unless there's anything in emails that might've been stated re deal in previous times, back when they were feeling cocky. Or why wouldn't thry release??
It might be irrelevant if it's proven that Lomax and his agent gave false and misleading information to Parramatta in order to obtain the release in thew first place.
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