The Parramatta Eels have today commenced legal proceedings against Zac Lomax. The purpose of the proceedings is to enforce the release agreed in November 2025.
We have endeavoured to resolve this by negotiations. This has included a formal independent mediation process with Zac Lomax and his legal team and representatives of the Melbourne Storm. However, no deal has been reached.
Zac’s legal team have informed us in writing that he does not agree that the terms of the release can be enforced against him. Regrettably, we have been left with no alternative, but to approach the NSW Supreme Court to resolve this issue.
In late July / early August, Zac requested a release from his playing contract with the Parramatta Eels to pursue opportunities outside the NRL. After a period of negotiation with Zac and his lawyers, the Parramatta Eels agreed to the terms of a release for Zac to pursue opportunities outside of the NRL. As part of the release granted on 16 November 2025, the Parramatta Eels included conditions to safeguard the Club.
One of those conditions was that Zac could not join another NRL Club before 31 October 2028 without our express written consent.
This protected the Parramatta Eels (and its Members and fans) from a football perspective heading into the 2026 season. It ensured the Club would not lose a representative player to another NRL club without receiving adequate compensation/benefit during the period of Zac’s original contract. Zac agreed to that condition after receiving legal advice.
Parramatta Eels Chairman Matthew Beach made the following comments:
“It is disappointing that we have reached this position, but we have an obligation to the Club’s stakeholders to protect the contractual rights of our Club and the expectation of our Members, players and supporters that contracts will be honoured.
“Back in November 2025, we granted Zac Lomax’s request for a release to pursue opportunities outside the NRL on the condition that he would not return to the NRL during the period of his original playing contract with our Club, without our written consent.”
”Zac had legal representation during the negotiations of his release. Zac accepted those conditions on the basis that he told us that his interests were focused on pursuing opportunities with rugby union, particularly R360. The release documentation was registered with the NRL. The NRL are aware of the conditions associated with the release.
“Our Club believes in the importance of observing contractual obligations. Contracts allow Clubs and players to operate with certainty and within a framework of rules. Contracts are the very stuff that any member of the community and companies have to honour in order to ensure that there is fair dealing. The same applies to the NRL, Clubs and players.
“Late last year, when we were approached by Melbourne Storm, we engaged with them in good faith however we have not been able to come to an agreement that would represent sufficient value for our Club, particularly in relation to our football program. The guiding position of our Club has been to ensure a fair exchange of value for our football program in circumstances where the Storm are attempting to obtain the benefit.”
“Zac and his agent still have an opportunity to work with us to explore options with the other 16 NRL clubs. Notwithstanding this action, we remain open to discussions with any Club who may be willing to offer the appropriate value for our football program.”
“Our coaching staff, players, Members and fans would not expect us to consent to the release based on what has been offered, and therefore we have no alternative but to pursue legal action to enforce the terms of the release and protect the rights of our Club.”
Arthur Moses SC has been retained by the Parramatta Eels to represent its interests in court,” added Beach.
Replies
You think Lomax is not good enough for the Storm? Their last premiership had these angels:
Munster, Bromwich, NAS, Brandon Smith
The premiership before that had Curtis Scott.
One thing I do know is, sometimes the courts work in mysterious ways. You could have your T's crossed and i's dotted and still the courts find a way to punish you. Only winners here are the lawyers.
Kudos to the club, Jim Sarantinos, and Matthew Beach for taking the bull by the horns after Team Lomax gave the NRL-registered agreement the middle finger.
The pressure-cooker for Lomax starts today in the Supreme Court, symbolically, at high noon. 12pm. The first interlocutory hearing.
Strategically, it probably makes sense that a lawyered-up V’landys has stayed publicly silent to date. He’d likely want Lomax (arguably an R360 victim) playing, but he also knows he can’t undermine the sanctity of registered contracts.
My suspicion is he’s quietly encouraged a fair, voluntary release rather than forcing an outcome, because simply registering a Storm contract would likely backfire badly.
Kudos to the club. Win or lose, the fact we chose to fight is a breath of fresh air and a signpost of our growth.
If Vlandys wasn't forcing the outcome why is it us going to court for enforcement and not Lomax going to seek relief.
Randy, who knows what V’landys is privately thinking or saying. But his public silence is telling. Parramatta has held an NRL-registered agreement for months. If V’landys were to approve a conflicting Storm contract now, he’d be undermining the very registartion process he administers.
Privately, he may want Lomax playing and even feel sympathy (as an R360 casualty), even tempted to force the issue as he'd dislike all this saga played out in public and the optics. He'd be lawyered up to his eyeballs, so would probably be following their advice, and know his best lawful option is to persuade the Eels to accept a deal and voluntarily release him. And they’re not rolling over.
Once Lomax’s legal team (allegedly now hot-shot Ramy Qutami) reversed course and challenged the lawfulness of an agreement Lomax had previously accepted with legal advice, and attempted to negotiate with, the matter escalated quickly. The Eels pulled the trigger first. Maybe Team Lomax were bluffing. I don't know. But Lomax may find he’s bitten off more than he wants to chew. The high-noon duel starts today.
Just my take on it. There are likely things I'm missing that I'm not privvy to.
I can't see anyway Zach wins in this case, eels have followed everything to a tee and followed the correct channels. Zachs defence is bad luck lol, which isn't really a defence. I could see Zach suing his own management but for negligence? Basically screwed him out of his 2.1 million dollar contract and thrown his career into the mud.
The actions of club here on this is the best the club has done for years! Bravo!! I love how the above letter to inform our legit position is written and expressed. Especially, Zac had legal representation during the negotiations of his release.The release documentation was registered with the NRL. The NRL are aware of the conditions associated with the release.
So why are the NRL (ok with Lomax's desire to sign with storm ) condoning the move? Everything that's come out seems to indicate that they don't see our objection with a signed release contract as valid or fair? Now nrl are willing to register a contract to allow storm getting what they want and not sticking with their own registered release contract doesn't matter!?
seems to me NRLs stand has antogonised this whole situation and this court appearance is as much about their extremely poor behaviour as it is, Storm, Lomax and his management.
HOE you say, "If V'landys were to approve a conflicting Storm contract now, he'd be undermining the very registartion process he administers."
but sorry that's exactly what they appear to be doing by wanting us to agree to release as reported. That's why I say, I love how the club expressed and made the pount in their letter, that the NRL had full knowledge of contract terms and registered them as such.
Macy, what’s reported, what the Eels fear as a risk, what the Storm may be attempting, what V’landys might be thinking or saying privately, and what V’landys has actually done are all different things.
At this point, there’s no tangible evidence he’s approved or registered a Lomax–Storm contract. Until that happens, I’m not fussing over it. If he does, then we can all raise our fists to the sky.
Well then Lomax's management stating that "“Peter V’landys said, ‘Yes, he’s welcome back’ " is an extremely bad comment to have made.
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