Parramatta have rejected Melbourne’s audacious bid to sign Zac Lomax on an immediate deal.
It is understood that the Storm requested permission from the Eels in recent weeks to talk with the NSW and Australian flyer.
The Eels instantly rejected the initial request based on the conditional release they granted Lomax in November. However those discussions are set to continue with the Storm still keen on landing the 26-year-old who is without a contract for this season.
The Eels retain Lomax’s rugby league rights despite agreeing to release him just 19 games into a four year deal at the end of last season.
Lomax requested – and was granted – an immediate exit from the Eels to pursue other opportunities. As part of that release, the Eels strictly stipulated that Lomax would not be able to play for any other NRL club until his contract expired at the end of 2028 but would be free to play any other code. Lomax agreed to the terms of the release.
At the time it was thought that Lomax would sign with rebel rugby competition R360. But since securing his early exit from Parramatta, R360 has been forced into a delayed start and will not be able to get off the ground until at least 2028.
The Storm play the Eels in round one to kick-start the competition following the Las Vegas double header.
Lomax has been searching for a new home ever since. He had flirted with rugby including stints in Japan, France or the US while Super Rugby clubs including the Force and Brumbies are keen to secure him.
However, he stands to earn about $400,000 if he opts to switch codes in Australia – well short of the $700,000 he was set to earn at Parramatta this year.
And well down on the $850,000 he would have pocketed if he remained at St George Illawarra before he was granted an early exit from the Dragons.
The prospect of playing rugby in Australia would give Lomax an opportunity to become a dual international. He would have been part of the Kangaroos’ Ashes squad had he not ruled himself out through injury.
The Storm suddenly have salary cap space given their recent departures of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet.
The unfortunate injury to Eliesa Katoa – who won’t play this year – has also given the Storm some extra cap room too.
The Eels would be expected to ask for a player of Lomax’s ability to even consider allowing him to play against the club
The Eels have been unable to find a like for like replacement given how late in the year Lomax wanted out.
They secured Gold Coast centre Brian Kelly on a two-year deal on Monday.
Replies
Fans are entitled as Eli said. I remember years ago when Sandow signed for Parramatta, a bunh of Souths fans i know said it was wrong of him to leave. I said you have Reynolds and you said he is better? They said yeah that's true. I replied so where does Sandow go if Reynolds starts. They said he can play NSW Cup. So you hate a bloke for leaving to go start at 7 for a club as opposed to NSW Cup? It is the mindset of some supporters.
Worse enough from a team that has had so much success, this year looked the most stressful year they had and finished 2nd technically.
Bellamy ain't going to be there in 2027, wonder what Lomax does then. Dragons were happy to see him gone, even though he left on good terms Parra seemed so as well. We all saw his level of play at Centre than Wing. A capable, if not unremarkable Centre. Elite Winger. Yet he will play Centre unless Coates or Warbrick go.
Is it odd for me to say that it seems weird a few Melbourne players are jumping ship as the reports of Bellamy going after 2026 seem to get louder? Nothing to extreme but a fair share of players have left compared to other years.
Not sure he did leave on good terms
Look just going off what i heard, which has a great strike rate at the moment, but again could be wrong as well. He was surprised Ryles took the news of asking for a release well and they worked well to get the release done. A slight hiccup with the conditions of the transfer fee apparently but other than that i was told it was fine and he had no problems with Parramatta and Ryles. He liked it there. If there is one thing that makes me believe otherwise it was how abrupt Parramatta were in their release post.
If the information i got was wrong, i would quickly correct it here as soon as i know.
If you have other info i would love to hear it, i am not being smart either i would love more information.
I have no other info, other than the fact that Lomax is very sensitive to the point of, him being offended that JR was so chilled in letting him go, if there is no issue why would he consider going to the storm and not come back to Parra, you would think that would be the natural and obvious choice?
He never looked happy on the field, all started after the State of Orgin series.
My understanding was that we had first right of refusal. If he asked to return to Parra at his current contract price and we refused this offer it would be void and he becomes a free agent. If he was smart he would call our bluff. Worst result for him is to end up back at Parra on 700k. If we refuse his offer he gets what he wants.
He would know (and so would we) that after getting him off our books we would be forced to spend his cap space on other players. You can't leave a $700k gap in your salary cap. The NRL rules state you have to spend at least 97.5% of it. So we would eventually be unable to offer him his old contract. After spending his money on Pezet and Kelly, we wouldn't be able to fit him under the cap.
So does he become a free agent if we refuse to take him back?
I think it's possible.
Imagining that Lomax could bluff his way into an NRL contract by demanding re-instatement at the Eels (and being refused) doesn't really stack up. First, if Eels are forced to spend his wage and then he demands re-instatement, which the Eels refuse, that can't make him a free agent unless we imagine the conditions didn't anticipate potential for such gaming of the system. Second, far more simply, the "not without our permission" clause applies to all teams and all teams includes the Eels. Or put differently, if he doesn't play for the Eels for whatever reason, he doesn't play for anyone?
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