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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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  • Storm poach Ryles from Roosters and promise him head coach duties, then renig and Ryles applies for an open head coaching position at Eels and Tripp whines the Eels poached Ryles?

    Storm refused to release JAC but Tripp whines that the Eels, who released Lomax, won't roll over and torch their own clauses in that release?

    Pezet signed late October 2025. Lomax had already informed the Eels as early as July 2025 that he wanted out to R360 and was officially released mid-November 2025. Now Tripp wants to claim the Eels were secretly trying to dump Lomax, who was contracted until end of 2028, so they could secure a backup half until the end of 2026? Is Tripp actually a comedian?

    • Prof you say, "Now Tripp wants to claim the Eels were secretly trying to dump Lomax, who was contracted until end of 2028, so they could secure a backup half until the end of 2026?"
      Im curious... did Tripper actually say this somewhere in print?? He ain't a comedian but a slanderous dip shit if he said that ha and I hope we take him on those ridiculous words. Omg storm effing up all over the place here now like pure brats haha

  • Media reports already showing that the Eels have flagged that Storm may have filed a preliminary contract for Lomax before commencing negotiations with Parramatta. 

    Sports lawyers? Is the court case relying on restraint of trade arguments (reasonable or not restraint) or also sanctity of contract? If latter is involved and if Storm had a preliminary contract, wouldn't Lomax be toast on sanctity of contract grounds?

    Eels refer to "NRL portal", which I imagine is how contracts are lodged and thus any lodging has an independent verification source (NRL)?

    • again Prof "Media reports already showing that the Eels have flagged that Storm may have filed a preliminary contract for Lomax before commencing negotiations with Parramatta."
      ...haha! Gawd I hope this is true🤞 Kinda explains why they haven't yet dropped Lomax signing hopes...moreover explains why the nrl have intervened v us trying to settle and ignoring their own registered contract release agreement made by us too! There is so much afoot with this whole crappy thing.

      stay strong parra 💙💛

  • The Eels have done absolutely nothing wrong! 

  • Tripp is used to getting his way. Heavily involved in a country AFL club got Brendan fevola there after Fev got into debt with him, went on to win a couple of premierships. He's old man was associated with some of Victorias colourful characters seen on the underbelly show. 

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