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 hope Parra have kept Lomax's contract money aside in case this happens as an insurance should Lomax call their bluff. That's what I would have done anyway, if it doesn't happen, they have money in the kitty for somone new during the season.
I presume they used Dylan Brown's salary cash to purchase Kelly and Pezet.
If they said give us Coates or Howarth etc, they must have space for that scenario?
Nowadays, we usually leave some powder dry for mid-season opportunities (e.g. Walker & TDS last year), so I suspect cap space isn't the biggest issue at play.
Lomax will be around 350-400K in 3-4 weeks for the 2026 cap.
PLV would also know our cap space. If he was trying to swing it Storm way, or push Parra, he could have publicly screwed us with "you don't have the cap space, take the settlement money."
Good point too HOE
Exactly my thoughts, we're going to need to pay whoever comes in, so it proves there is some stashed money aside.
If Lomax came back I would not allow him to be goal kicker
Lomax's goalkicking:
2023 — dropped to 68%, a career worst; following partner issues.
2025 — dropped from 83% to 67% from late June to the rest of the season; following R360 interest and seeking a release.
after this episode, I'd park him in the NSW Cup with Matterson.
No space for matto in cup...we should stuff him in Sparky's suit
Interesting thought re potential for Lomax to come back to Parra. He doesn't have a contract with us other than to say he can't play for another club. To me that sounds like we can make him another offer of lesser value. In reality though, he has clearly burnt any bridge he had with the club. Ryles will have him on the bench for NSW Cup.
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