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
Parra need to keep everythig public, all imformation, communcitaion with the Storm and NRL being made public knowledge. Pressure everyone from every direction
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.
The moment V'Landy's said, not long after he was appointed, that the NRL was entertainment, and not a sport, the alarm bells for true rugby league fans should have been ringing. They certainly were for me.
The NRL want the same clubs to dominate to maximise TV revenue, much like the NFL with their 'big market franchises' such as LA Rams, KC, Philadelphia etc, and the EPL with their 'big 4' in Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Man United. That means Brisbane, Easts and Melbourne will always get what they want from the NRL and broadcasters to be successful. Look at the Cronk example. He was given a cushy role on Fox Sports as part of his deal to move to Easts, yet that wasn't incorporated into the Roosters cap.
Canterbury, Penrith, Parramatta are next down on the list, but only when they are winning and ceretainly don't get the same level of assistance from the central body or broadcasters.
and the problem with that is what? Parra made their bed! they just need to wake up and get out of it.
Do you really think anyone is interested in your alarm bells, yes there are favourites in the game, Cronk was a classic, but its not like he is not a good image for the game.
We are lucky we have Nathan Hindmarsh representing the Parramatta level of intellect in a public media sense.
Every dog has his day, it just that we need to get rid of the fleas before we go public in trying to fcuk anyone!
PS I am still concerned why Lomax did not want to come back to Parra, how bad an alternative are we?
If you don't think that there is a problem with the NRL and broadcasters favouring certain teams, then go and follow the NFL and EPL for all I care.
Cronk should have gone to the Tigers, or had his Fox contract included under the Roosters cap.
Not everything you say is gospel Poppa. Others can have a different view. It would pay for you to remember that.
I choose not to, I am not the whinger .... I know nothing about NFL and have no tribal interest in EPL.
If I don't have a problem and not complaining like you are, please explain why you think I should follow another code.....does not that have more application for you than me.
One final point why is my opinions always "gospel" and others not? Surely i have the right to contradict/counter an opinion as you have, to have one?
What it does Pops and you'll know this but in other guises it makes the hill that is tough to climb.Mt Isa becomes Mt Everest pretty quickly.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 13 Next