From The Sydney Morning Herald...
Melbourne’s pursuit of Zac Lomax could prove more costly than expected if the NRL deems the club’s promise to cover the exiled winger’s legal bills should be included in the Storm’s salary cap.
Parramatta began legal proceedings to prevent Lomax from joining the Storm, given his release from a four-year contract was contingent on the Eels providing written consent. The Blues winger was granted a release to join rebel rugby competition R360, but has been left in limbo after its inaugural season was put back until 2028.
Lomax’s hopes of making his Melbourne debut against former club Parramatta in the opening round have been thwarted after his court hearing was scheduled to end a day after the AAMI Park clash.
According to court documents made available last week, the Eels claim the Storm indemnified Lomax’s court expenses.
Replies
Absolutely, all that stuff that's gone on goes in our favour with the judge in making his determination.
I don't think we're being vindictive at all towards Lomax. We just want to be adequately compensated for our loss which is a fair enough request.
I doubt we would refuse to deal with Melbourne, we are all adults and they're just trying to leverage any advantage they can (whether or not we see it as being fair). It's a competition, you've got to try and gain any advantage you can. Unfortunately for them all their dirty laundry is going to get a public airing very soon lol.
If Lomax and strom had approached the eels in good faith and said look Zach is wanting to return to the nrl let's work out something that helps both of us. I'm sure that would have been a better path. Not sneaking behind the eels backs and crying to the nrl to force them to take a transfer fee. That's not how you do business and won't get you anywhere
Howarth and 200k transfer fee back in December and none of this would be happening. Storm just want everything their own way and that's not how life works. Two sides to the deal
Storm either get him this year or not at all, so player swap next year is quite impossible. But I agree I think a swap is hard as Melbourne are that proud in what they are doing they won't have a sense of losing by caving in.
Yeah he ain't sitting out for 3 years unless the courts rule it, which they won't. If we win, the NRL and Melbourne will be on our ass to get it done but not much they can do. If we lose, Lomax will just be taken off us for nothing.
Maybe I didn't phrase my comment well post 2026. To be honest I'm not getting too hung up on the storm and what may or may not happen. I'd take Harry Grant or Cameron Munster off their hands, but we all know realistically that ain't happening. If they aren't interested in Lomax after this season so be it.
This court case just just serves to buy us some time and gives us negotiating leverage with any club (not necessarily Melbourne) and utilise the media to shine a light on what goes on behind the scenes. Be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Adam, that would be some meeting behind closed doors: us, the NRL, the Storm, some who-me-yes-you poker faces, and enough blowtorches to keep the fire exits relevant.
You could potentially ban him from playing against the eels for the term of his contract but how is that fair on the other clubs who have to face Storm who get an origin winger for a 200k transfer. If Lomax really wants to play nrl then open it up to all the clubs and best offer gets him
Alarms going off you reckon?
Denan Kemp said, and he is right, Melbourne cannot say no to a player of theirs asking for a release again.
The main thing out of this is Melbourne do not give a flying you know what how people see them in this. If they win the comp this year all this is nothing.
Would I care if Parra won a comp while being hated? Not at all.
The best thing for the Eels is if we say nothing our position is clear we only have to come back to the table if Melbourne come with something we see as advantageous for us that really is the bottom line.
Best thing about this there the ones doing all the talking trying to drum up sympathy for the situation.Dragging the nrl into this when they have zero business being there.We have a signed and sealed document.Melbourne the court of public opinion can say what they like as above as long as we have that good luck trying to get themselves out from under that one.For me all the rest are sermantics all we have to prove is that Lomax was mentally competent at the date of signing and all the rest is all the rest after that.
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