News is starting to filter out, that surprises me to be honest.
I want to start by saying I was a Zac Lomax fan, and thought he was providing a lot from the back. I didn't enjoy his mistake rate but I was living with it, anyway here is an interesting summary of a news article, It centres on a conversation involving Cronk, Roach and Pitt. Sounds like more behind the scenes then I thought and gives indications why Ryles let go an Australian representative so quickly.
Real reason Parramatta coach cut Zac Lomax loose
The Eels’ decision to cut ties with Zac Lomax has been hailed as a masterstroke as details emerge about why Parramatta’s coach axed him.
Cooper Cronk has praised Parramatta’s decision to part ways with NSW winger Zac Lomax as another strong move from coach Jason Ryles aimed at resetting the club’s “culture”.
Not allowing Lomax to play out the 2026 season has been lauded as a strong move from Ryles.
I reckon Jason Ryles has shown a lot of maturity here,” Tigers great Steve Roach said.
You’ve got to tip your cap to Jason Ryles,” Cronk concurred.I feel like this is another call from Jason Ryles. He’s like, ‘Well Zac, if you want to leave, if you’re not buying into what we’re doing, see you later’.
From what we know of Zac Lomax, he beats to the sound of his own drum and he would probably back himself to play LIV Golf, just as he would back himself to play in R360.”
Roach said, I just wonder sometimes how much these guys actually love the game.
Pitt said : That's what i'm saying, I think Zac Lomax will do whatever he chooses. He could start boxing, that’s the kind of guy he is.”
Cronk added: “And maybe that’s the type of guy Jason Ryles doesn’t want.
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Looks like we are going strong on Culture and the type of motivated player to wear Blue and Gold is being re defined by Ryles. If indications are true, it's something a lot of us have been calling for , for a long time.
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Bluey, This was from a long podcast (Episode Two, NRL podcast 19/11). I was actually going to post it yesterday as it has Cronk's general views on Parra including Pezet which I think are pretty spot on. I am a Lomax fan too, mate, but I'm not sure the club had many other options that were wise.
I am strongly of the view that losing Lomax is a disaster.
I have qualified the situation by implying there must be something we do not know?
With all the discussions taking place, especially along the lines of what Bluey said I came out and suggested that Lomax could be a lone wolf type character which creates such views.
Now let's accept that but Parra has had a number obtuse personalities over the years and in a district like ours, I think we need to live with them, so what. I am not going to enter into a debate over all those different styles and characters, two of our greatest in Price and Grothe had things they said and done, that probably would not quite pass the culture set at various stages, albeit more post career.
I'm all for the character and culture but people living in glass houses, Cronk and Roach being prime examples are too easily recognised as experts. I would not piss on Roach as an expert and Cronk's departure from Stor m to Roosters was a orchestrated piece of shit.
Rugby League is not a game played by gentleman, truesms are they are closer to thugs in many cases
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater seems to be a common trait with lots of thinkers in our ranks.
Parramatta is a better football side with Lomax in it and I don't care if he is a lone wolf. If he can find, hunt and kill on command I would prefer him on my side rather than against me.
Yeah well he's gone and you're still blabbering on.
You can't prove the contract amount that Lomax signed on for, and it was stated he was on 800 at the dragons. Common sense says only a fool would think he'd sign here for 650. .
If he was on 800 to 850 here, im sure you wouldn't be so uptight about Ryles cutting him loose.
Chiefy, is this the same Chiefy who has BA and Coryn living rent free in his very vacant head.....the same one that just said "he's gone and your still blabbering on" LOL.
Want to add Lomax to that group, I suspect there is space left, given we are dealing with an empty vessell to begin with. PS we couldn't replace him for a million, given there are no alternatives available....the 800 plus would not worry me in the slightest.
I have dealt with you enough to understand and know you know nothing about finance and money Chief!
Lol. The old pawn shop pensioner’s motto is simple: buy low, scam high.
Ploppa the old man posts nonstop on social media, determined to stay relevant even if his jokes expired before he did. Careful mate, you'll miss the early-bird special at the local RSL again. Its Friday, mashed potatoes + peas on toast day Popa haha 😄 😋
Pops, we can talk about this for hours, lol. His carries, skill, and passion won’t be replaced like-for-like; he was our Haas-Coates lion-hybrid. Our Thor hammer as you say.
But he needs to figure out what he actually wants to do. Boxing? French rugby? R360? Basketball? NRL? Maybe he will be back. Maybe not. Sure, we're better with Lomax if he's head is in it, but we'd also be better with Cameron Munster or Payne Haas. As much as Lomax is a firey lion and perhaps adventurous with a touch of genius, he's a bit unstable like water not crystal clear about which jug or containter to be in. He’s 26. He’s only a year or so younger than Papy, and has played more games. Hayne also had dreams or other fantasies beyond NRL and went on an adventure. It happens. Not everyone is the same, but talent and potential isn't enough. You need comittment. Clarity of purpose to fulfil your potential. Don't forget it's only the last two seasons Lomax has started to fulfil his potential. He's fallen off the cliff before. And maybe not for the last time.
The club had three real options. They took The Bus.
1. Control and Keep.
Enforce the contract. The Tigers tried this with Galvin before flipping to the second strategy (the one you are pushing for) hoping for a change of heart or to keep him as long as possible, before Richo went the full “crocodile roll” when they realised you can’t negotiate someone's heart into wanting to stay on the bus.
2. Please Stay as Long as Possible.
It’s not impossible, but risky, and potentially an iffy ticking-time-bomb in many ways.
"If" Lomax leaves in April and plays below his potential like he did at the Saints during off-field drama, or mid-season when his goal-kicking dipped from 83% to 63% once R360 talks to turn his head, we burn half his salary cap space for little gain. Remember the Dragons (Chammas) apparanlty topped up his contract so we'd probably be paying 650-700K (2025) and 800-850K (2026 onwards). So, we'd lose on the deal. I suspect money is another of Lomax's objectives: why not be passionate, have an adventure out of your comfort zone, while making as much money on whatever or whererever you are?
"If" he stays longer and clears his head somewhat, we might squeeze a bit more juice out of the lemon. But we’d need weekly contingency plans with zero help from his salary.
It’s complex, a pain in the backside, and still leaves consequences to mop up after he goes. Worst still, if he stayed beyond much beyond April, we'd lose out on a potential additional long-term recruit of the TDS, Fox, Williams or Walker calibre for the pleasure of the gamble.
Fingers crossed there's no other unforeseen consequences I'm missing. And what precedent does it set? Don’t want to be on the bus? No worries. Maybe we sort something out if you’re talented enough?
3. The Bus Test.
Ivan Cleary is the blueprint here. He's the poster boy for the "on the bus" and uncompromising about who’s on the bus, regardless of talent or potential. You can make mistakes, stuff up or disagree, as long as you're still on the bus comitted to the cause. The Panthers don’t become the Panthers without that line in the sand. Either do the Storm. The Eels like the Storm with Papy, who's no less a player than Lomax, ultimately chose this route, but with conditions tying Lomax to the club for the length of his NRL deal if he has a change of heart and clears his mind about what he wants to do. He can’t play for another NRL club until his contract expires. For Matt Cameron, the “fatal” losses are always spine guys: Cleary (he calls his "electricity") and Yeo (he calls "water" services). Moses would be ours.
If Lomax were a lion in the wild, maybe we could cage him, train or coerce him and keep him in the zoo. But hearts don’t bend to contracts. That’s one of life’s uncontrollables. And our club is more than a Thor movie.
Hoey, the Bus Test with Ivan Cleary is a good example..... its probably the best argument put up so far!
The fact he looked as if he'd checked out half way through the season makes ur statement moot....Lomax is a very confused human being, we have had enough of that over 40 years, good luck Zac....I'm sure Parra will thrive without you, no more the pushovers of the competition.....disaster? Definitely not !!!!
A "master stroke" and "the type of guy Jason Ryles doesn't want". Maybe Lomax is very replaceable, even to the point of being unwanted, and the club isn't at fault at all in how this has been handled.
You don't actullay know that Adam...... you have view. thats fine. You didn't want JAC either if you remember or any player that may have a "stain" on them...... Horses for courses Adam.....I could bet you support the Greens as well.
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