LOMAX STICKING POINT AT EELS
Zac Lomax is reportedly set to be tabled a contract to join the Eels for the 2025 season and beyond, but two sticking points have been revealed.
The 24-year-old was granted a release from the final two years of his Dragons contract on Tuesday after it emerged he was disgruntled after shifting to the wing under Shane Flanagan.
The Eels have been leading the race to acquire his services next year, and the gun outside back even attended a family dinner at the home of coach Brad Arthur.
But now, according to 2GB’s Neil Breen, Lomax will have to take a significant pay cut to join the Parramatta outfit.
“Zac Lomax will be tabled an offer from Parramatta this week,” Breen said.
“The problem for Lomax is, it will be a three-year offer, and each year will be about $150,000 to $200,000 short of what he was going to get paid at the Dragons.
“That’s the pay cut he is taking. He was on $800,000 this year, $850,000 next year, $875,000 the year after. He’s going to be $150,000-odd short of that.”
Lomax’s offer from the Eels is set to be around the $650,000 to $750,000, joining the club’s top earners but Parramatta bosses will have to argue his value to the NRL.
NRL rules dictate players are not allowed to sign new contracts with rival clubs for less money than their worth.
According to the SMH, NRL bosses have informed the Eels any difference in his now deal and his Dragons contract will be taken from the club’s salary cap.
Parramatta bosses are reportedly set to argue his new deal reflects his market value, hoping to negate the difference coming off their sap for 2025 and beyond.
Meanwhile, young gun Blaize Talagi is reportedly set to be handed a contract extension, with his current deal expiring at the end of 2024.
He also has an option in his favour to extend midway through this year for the 2025 campaign, but with rivals circling the Eels have moved to sign him on long-term.
Replies
If NRL states we have to pay full freight on the SC, then Lomax can find somewhere else or take NRL to court for restraint of trade.
Why the hell would we offer him $650K but still be happy to have close to $900K come off our SC?
Is this only a Eels rule? Because I've seen so fucking many clubs get players for far less than their worth! Did Souths pay Wighton more than Canberra did? Nope
The nrl can go suck my cock.... TPJ wankers? I bet Broncos don't pay him 600K a year.
So we are now taking advice from a DJ at 2GB? Lomax is worth what he is able to attact on the open market, which I'm sure will be what Parra offer him.
What an absolute fucking joke the NRL.
Why doesn't the club publically call them out and point out the obvious recent double standards ie Wighton and TPJ?
Surely this rule cannot stand based on precedence. If it does then the NRL should be sued for restraint of trade.
There's plenty of Lawyers in Parramatta - surely one of them is a Parra fan?
Gus planted the seed and now the NRL are gonna run with it.
how can they be real!!!!??? Gus blows hot wind and nrl jump!!🤢🤮
saints back loaded his contract as reported that portion of what we are willing to pay and his back loaded amount is absolutely saints problem! Nothing to do with us!
Absolutely disgusted
besides that if the off contracted player is happy with offer then why is it an issue like many others have done in past. Get the lawyers Parra!!I do not get it?
Based on how he has played and his achievments, or lack there off (No Origin experience or Premierships). He is barely worth $650K.
I hope the Eels are ready to walk away from this deal if they are asked to pay a cent over $700K.
A number of tough decisions need to be made at our club and not being forced to pay overs for anything but game changing players (Lomax is not a game changer in his current form) is one of them. Lomax has "NEVER" been a game changer, he has just had moments of brilliance, nothing more!!!
I hope he does become that good but he isn't anywhere near that and just because one club (a desperate St George) were willing to pay him that much doesn't mean all the other clubs in the league were. The board has rocks in their heads if they think he is worth more than $700k and even that's a large amount for someone who is regularly outplayed by a number of other Centres in the game who are being payed less. Taylan May would be a perfect example, much better player currently and apparently accepted a deal for $500K.
The amount a player is worth should "ALWAYS" be determined by the club and the player, not the league. If the league finds other off the books amounts were paid, then punish both the player and the team. But if everything is above board and that's what they agreed to, that's the deal.
Every one has gone off half cocked on this, not the least being Gould who leads you striaght down the path he wanted to take you.
Move on you guys must have something better to start erupting over