The Eels have organised a meeting with disgruntled Dragons star Zac Lomax on Wednesday as they ramp up their bid to lure him to Parramatta immediately.
The Herald can reveal that Lomax has scheduled talks with Eels powerbrokers just 24 hours after he was granted a release from the final two years of his deal at the Dragons.
The Eels are preparing to offer Lomax a long-term deal until at least the end of 2027, but the sticking point will be the matter of how soon he will be able to link with the club.
The Eels have salary cap space to sign him as a centre immediately, but the Dragons will not release him this season unless they get an adequate replacement in return. They are looking for a back-up fullback and hooker.
The Dragons on Tuesday announced they had terminated the final two years of Lomax’s contract, allowing him to leave the joint venture club at the end of 2024 – or sooner if a suitable player swap can be arranged.
“The club will only consider a release this year if a player of considerable standing is offered in return which our head coach Shane Flanagan is comfortable with,” the club said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Lomax has been agitating for a release since being moved to the wing by Flanagan. He has had several requests for an exit this season denied.
Lomax has been on Parramatta’s radar for some time and they are keen to sign him immediately, although all attempts have been rebuffed by the Dragons so far.
Documents confirming two-thirds of Lomax’s remaining contract are to be terminated were lodged with the NRL on Tuesday.
St George Illawarra are adamant there will be “no financial contribution to be made by the club” in 2025 and 2026 to Lomax’s contract, which is worth about $800,000 a year as one of the club’s biggest earners. Lomax is the second-highest paid player at the Dragons behind skipper Ben Hunt.
“By finalising this decision now, it provides both Zac and the club with clarity regarding the future, allowing us time to strategise for the upcoming seasons,” Dragons CEO Ryan Webb said in the statement.
“This arrangement enables the Dragons to focus on refining our top 30 roster and utilising additional cap space, while Zac can pursue his future endeavours with another club.”
The Dragons have moved quickly to ensure their own rostering moves can’t be hamstrung by negotiations over Lomax leaving his contract early. Often, that situation results in a club paying a player to play for a rival long after they have left.
Flanagan has already met 24-year-old Wallabies star Jordan Petaia about a potential code switch as early as next season.
Penrith’s 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year Sunia Turuva is also in the club’s sights as his management prepares to go to market after extension talks stalled with the Panthers.
The Dragons are prepared to go beyond the $350,000 Penrith are willing to offer due to salary cap restraints. Flanagan is a big admirer of Turuva and would consider him as a fullback-winger option.
St George Illawarra are the first club to express interest and want to meet with Turuva to gauge his desire to leave the three-time reigning champions. The club has also started its own extension talks with Tyrell Sloan.
Replies
Flanagan and Saints know how desperate we are we've made no secret of it and broken the number 1 rule in the negotiating process.
They're not about to release him this year given they've probably picked up half his tab for 2024 already unless they get quality to replace him. Plenty of noise they are chasing Asofa Solomona who is on the outs at Melbourne. Melbourne seem pretty set for outside backs so you'd think a long term deal is out of the question but who knows for the rest of this year
NAS to dragons. Matto to Storm. Lomax to Eels?
Alfred agree, feels like we might sign Lomax for 2025 onwards, which is great, and Flanno will stand his ground... for now.
But later in the season if the Dragons are out of finals contention, and we aren't, Flanno may see no point in hanging onto Lomax instead of blooding a rookie with the focus already on 2025.
We may not get Lomax immediately, but wouldn't write off getting him at some point in 2024 just yet (hopefully).
Three way trade, some NFL type stuff there NOS, love it. I reckon there is a chance Flanno would take a package deal. Yeah he wants top 3, but also depth and getting quality players is attractive too. Say Greig he would start immediately. Then if they want say NAS, Greig can still start or be a decent bench player. Just an example.
Sanders as well should be very attractive. Hunt is 34. If he plays past 2025 it wont be in Sydney. Have Sanders at 6 (yes i know he is not a 6 but better than nothing) play some NRL and then replace Hunt seemlessly. St. George are going to struggle finding a Halfback to replace Hunt, look at Canterbury. Why not just get a young kid now and then transition.
Agree LB, Sanders makes the most sense, if he has a foot out the door already anyway.
I know he has huge wraps, but so did Brodie Croft, we have seen how hard that transition is as a halfback.
Sanders looks years away imo & with the hype around him is a pretty handy bargaining chip (unless he wants to stay, of course).
Melbourne don't have a lot of cap space. Could they use Lomax? Absolutely as Reimis Smith has been on the outer for a while just needed someone to replace him. But Melbourne at the moment are thin on middle forwards in general. Even though they are not using NAS, come late season going into finals, Bellamy would love having him there as an option. Bellamy ain't stupid or reactionary. He will keep NAS for this year at least then he will move on as they get another middle.
Back up hooker = Ron Massey Cup Player
Back up fullback = Cini
Sounds fair to me.
Melbourne could get him, Dragons after a forward, straight swap for Nelson
Take Hands off our hands. Done deal and everyone happy. Greig is a must for retention based on age. Give the Ofa or Paulo instead
Weirdly I thought Dragons signed Ofa years ago but it was another Broncos forward. But can't remember the name.
Easy Brendan Hands and Daejarn ASI
bring on lomax
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