The NRL is preparing to step in to resolve the Melbourne-Parramatta contract stand-off over Zac Lomax.
Lomax is eager to join the Storm after his proposed move to rebel rugby competition R360 was delayed when its start date was pushed back to 2028.
Lomax is in limbo after the Eels agreed to release him from the final three years of his contract. One of the terms of Lomax’s release was that he cannot play for a rival NRL club without their permission during that period.
The Eels have no interest in any transfer fees and are only prepared to entertain a player swap, with Storm stars Jack Howarth, Xavier Coates and Stefano Utoikamanu at the top of their wish list.
Melbourne have lost a number of players from last year’s losing grand final squad. Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona were granted early releases, while Eli Katoa will also miss the entire 2026 campaign after emergency surgery following a series of head knocks while playing a Test for Tonga. The Storm cannot afford to lose any more representative players and have knocked back the Eels’ approach.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed the Storm had offered Parramatta about $200,000 in compensation.
The transfer fee was considered reasonable, according to the same sources, especially given Canterbury paid Wests Tigers $165,000 in compensation for the mid-season arrival of promising playmaker Lachie Galvin last year.
Any financial compensation will not assist the Eels in the open market. Transfer fees assist clubs with football operations, including pathways, but are not factored into the salary cap.
Sources confirmed the NRL is prepared to intervene if the Eels are not prepared to budge and entertain any “reasonable offers” by the Storm, or any rival club in the market for the 26-year-old.
Lomax is a NSW Origin representative, was a part of the initial Kangaroos Ashes squad and the NRL does not want to lose a player of his calibre if it is possible to keep him.
Neither the Eels nor Lomax want a reunion. Since losing Lomax, Parramatta have signed Brian Kelly from the Gold Coast.
The NRL was contacted for comment, while the Eels and Storm said there had been no fresh developments on Monday. Lomax’s lawyer, Ramy Qutami, also declined to comment.
Some rival clubs made it clear during a phone hook-up of CEOs last Wednesday that they wanted the NRL to back Parramatta’s hardline stance on Lomax. During that meeting Storm chief executive Justin Rodski was forced to defend the club’s pursuit of the star outside back.
Lomax, who posted a photo of himself at what appeared to be a Melbourne Renegades Big Bash game over the weekend, has been trying to remain in tip-top physical shape while awaiting an outcome.
Any deal put forward by the Storm will be longer than one season. Lomax’s ability to play several positions in the back line has appeal, and he adds depth to a squad that includes winger Will Warbrick (who struggled with concussion symptoms for most of last season) and young No.1 Sua Faalogo (who is likely to need a physical and mental rest at some stage during the campaign).
Lomax’s management confirmed on a podcast late last week that ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys was happy to welcome Lomax back to the NRL, and the threat of 10-year bans did not apply because the NSW Origin representative never signed a deal with R360.
Super Rugby clubs the Western Force and ACT Brumbies were keen to sign Lomax, only for the outside back to have a change of heart after Christmas.
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said last week: “As far as we’re concerned, we won’t be consenting to him signing with another club unless there’s an appropriate exchange of value.
“We have had a representative player leave our roster who now wants to join another club’s roster.”
Replies
Parramatta need to stand firm. What can Vlandys do? There's no middle ground here.
Something tells me we're going to end Up with Melbourne offering Tui Kamikamika
We'd be a laughing stock. We've already got rid of him once, not going to happen, if it does we are dead in the water as a club
I am fed up with this bullshit, parra need collect every evidence and state unfair play by the NRL. All started in 2016-2026
If they intervene i am done with the NRL fuck the NRL and everything they stand for. Because as a fan this shows me what they really want and who they truly want in the NRL, V'landys the bald fuck is mattes with tom dick and harry you think he'll help us. Nah, so fed up man. Love the club but the sport doesn't allow the club to be loved and thats the truth that hurts. They make sure we have a drought for so long as long as they are making money and living off Parra losing. Greedy fucks the NRL is, this is all for RD1 clash to beat AFL records. Fuck NRL and their fake WWE sport.
V'Landys thinks he knows what fans want, but he doesn't.
Abdo is a reverse Robin Hood, steal from the poor to give to the rich. The bloke if firm with clubs that are weak but soft with strong clubs and bows to them. The bloke acts tough but is weak as piss. Never liked him and never will. He is an arrogant f***er.
I agree. If the NRL do not back us in this then, Fuck Them indeed...but Fuck Them rough and in public.
Refs do us no favours and the NRL ignore us so what have we to lose by becoming The Squeakywheel. They want WWE, well lets give them some fucking theatrics. Public statements against NRL leaderships position. Give them the PR equivalent of a faceslap. I'm serious. Fuck 'em. Being obsequious gets us nowhere so let's push back...hard. V'landys will then make authority noises and act all good-guy tough-guy, just doing what's best for us all, because that's his WWE role. Let's hit him with a stool and diss him. Give the media some redmeat to play with. We won't lose any fans by showing some fucking grit....if we can find any
Another click bait story aimed at getting a response from Parra fans. If the nrl is stepping in surely it's to say Lomax signed a contract and we hold all the aces. $200k is a joke and we don't need the money. The comparison with Galvin is even more farcical given he wasn't desperate to play another code and didn't sign a contract stating he wouldn't play with another ntl club for the next 3 years. Lomax shit the bed and now he gets to lie in it
Never liked V'landys or his puppet Abdo. He can't order Parra to drop the contract agreement, he can ask but, he is not the law, and not above it. My guess is V'landys will come out with some threats, hoping g that we will cave in and allow Lomax to sign with Melbourne. He probably won't even give us the satisfaction of making Lomax sit out round one.
I liked V'Landys, i felt he would be great for the game as he was for Racing NSW. Issue with V'Landys is he seems to inspire to be legendary. He wants to look back on things and say "I did that". He comes up with these grand ideas, mirroring those of world class sports around the world that quadruple the money that NRL do, particularly NFL. Issue is our population alone limits us as a sporting nation to reach those heights.
When you have someone who sees themselves as a visionary, their plans can never be reasoned with. Any critique is a backhand to his hard work.
Then you have Abdo, an isufferable yes man to V'Landys who nearly stuffed up the last TV deal due to his stubborness and incompetence. The bloke irritates me, always has. I love the idea of Ben Ikin taking over from him, issue is Ikin wont fall for V'Landys BS.
I maintain the bloke is shit for the game and has no clothes. If he leaves us posted on this we should frag him
You are spot on with the visionary delusion. He needs to be martyred.