Eels Blogs

UPDATE, Tuesday 3 March, 2026: It’s over, folks. No courtroom fireworks. No landmark ruling. No dirty Storm or HQ laundry. Settlement reached before the main hearing even kicked off. Zac Lomax has agreed to largely uphold the restraint imposed by the Eels.

• He cannot return to the NRL without Eels consent until 2028.
• The restriction ends on 31 October 2027 not 31 October 2028 (one year shaved off).
  Effectively two years out of the NRL, not three, foreshadowing a likely read down.
• An earlier return is only possible via: A negotiated player swap, or Formal written consent from Parramatta.
• The Melbourne Storm will cover $250,000 in Parramatta’s legal costs.

This is now a Pandora’s box with ominous Storm clouds. But not for our club. They hover over the Lomax camp. When ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys publicly backed Lomax recently, more than two weeks into proceedings, he urged that he not be “overly punished” or “crucified".  V'landys is directly engaging key considerations the equity court must weigh: public interest, fairness, and proportionality. A week later, explosive court discovery materials show the Storm, who are reportedly funding Lomax’s case, asked the NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, to apply a “blowtorch” to our club. The Storm also allegedly represented that the NRL would impose salary cap sanctions if Parramatta did not concede. To date, neither V’landys nor Abdo has publicly responded to these allegation. However, yesterday V'landys told the SMH that Lomax's "mental state of health is not good, he’s not coping well with all of this."

This blog will be updated as the matter develops.

LOMAX TIMELINE

BACKGROUND
• 2 Apr 2024 — Lomax granted early release from Dragons (effective 2025–26).
• 16 Apr 2024 — Signs four-year contract with Parramatta Eels (2025–28).
JULY-NOVEMBER 2025 — R360 / EELS' RELEASE PHASE
•     July–Nov — Signs provisional R360 contract.
•     Aug 2025 — Advises Eels he intends to take up R360 opportunity; requests release.
• 01 Oct 2025 — Public agitation for release.
• 15 Oct 2025 — ARLC announces 10-year bans for players contracted to R360.
• 16 Nov 2025 — Eels grant release; registered with NRL.
• 19 Nov 2025 — Lomax agents sever ties with R360.
• 29 Nov 2025 — R360 delays launch to 2028.
DECEMBER 2025 — RUGBY UNION FALLBACK / STORM NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENT
• 2 Dec 2025 —   Meets Western Force.
• 11 Dec 2025 — Matt Tripp states he "engaged" with Lomax to discuss his future.
• 11 Dec 2025 — Tripp claims Lomax said he would approach Eels first to “do the right thing.”
• 12 Dec 2025 — Rugby Australia confirms interest in signing Lomax.
• 18 Dec 2025 — Super Rugby offer reportedly ~$400–450k plus top-ups.
• 24 Dec 2025 — Storm and Lomax reach in-principle, non-binding agreement for 2026 (conditional on Eels’ release).
• 24 Dec 2025 — Lomax messages Storm players Harry Grant and Cameron Munster.
• 29 Dec-2 Jan— Storm inform Eels they are negotiating with Lomax
JANUARY 2026 — ESCALATION
• 2 Jan 2026 — Tripp offers a $100K transfer and allegedly refuses player swap discussed with the Eels.
• 3 Jan 2026 — Offer allegedly increased to $200K.
• 6 Jan 2026 —  Lomax publicly seeks unconditional release.
• 13 Jan 2026 — Tripp allegedly indicates to Matthew Beach that NRL may take punitive salary cap action if Eels refuse Storm proposal. Storm agree to pay Lomax's legal fees around this time too.
• 15 Jan 2026 — Eels refuse unless “appropriate exchange of value" indicating a player swap.
•  ~ Jan 2026 — Lomax’s solicitor, Ramy Qutami, allegedly writes claiming Deed of Release unenforceable.
• ~  Jan 2026 —  Offer reportedly increased to $300K.
• 21 Jan 2026 — Storm CEO Justin Rodski allegedly texts NRL CEO Andrew Abdo:
“Hi Andrew, not getting anywhere at this point, can you apply the blowtorch on Parramatta to get this done.”
• 22 Jan 2026 — Eels write to Abdo seeking clarification regarding alleged salary cap sanction threats made by the Storm.
• 22 Jan 2026 — Abdo responds that no such sanction threats were made.
• 22 Jan 2026 — Eels commence legal proceedings to enforce Deed of Release.
FEBRUARY 2026 — PLV, HQ PUBLIC COMMENTARY
• 4 Feb 2026 — National coach Kevin Walters suggests deed may operate as restraint of trade.
• 7 Feb 2026 — ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys breaks 16-day public silence on Lomax case since Lomax proceedings began on Jan 22, and Lomax case since Oct-November 2025 (a few months).
• 7 Feb 2026 — ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys states Lomax should not be “punished” or “crucified,” referencing public interest considerations opf "best players" playing.
• 13 Feb 2026 — Court discovery show private communications between the Storm and NRL CEO asking the NRL to "apply a blowtorch" to the Eels
• 13 Feb 2026 — Court discovery show Storm told the Eels the NRL would sanction them.
• 15 Feb 2026 — V'landys claims Lomax's "mental state of health is not good" and "he’s not coping well" with this "pile-on".

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2026 — SUPREME COURT
•  2 Feb 2026 — Return of Subpoena before Senior Deputy Registrar
•  2 Feb 2026 — Duty (Equity) before Chief Judge in Equity
•  3 Feb 2026 — Directions before Justice F Kunc
•  6 Feb 2026 — Directions (Expedition) before Justice F Kunc
•  9 Feb 2026 — Return of Subpoena before Senior Deputy Registrar
•  9 Feb 2026 — Directions before Justice F Kunc
• 10 Feb 2026 — Further Return of Subpoena
• 20 Feb 2026 — Additional Return of Subpoena
•   2 Mar 2026 — Substantive hearing before Justice F Kunc (listed through 17 Mar); 2 Mar hearing delayed until 3 Mar to allow for negotiations between the Strom and the Eels

•   3 Mar 2026 — Lomax accepts restraint upheld but with a year shaved off; Storm to pay agreed sum in Eels' legal costs of $250,000

CRITICAL EQUITY WINDOW (December 2025)
Lomax and his agents claim he approached Eels first about returning before agreeing to Storm terms, and Eels said no to return, with restraint arguably becoming more punitive if proven.
BUT Alleged Discovery Material Suggests:
• Storm–Lomax make in-principle agreement dated 24 Dec 2025 which preceded formal Eels consent or advising them of negotiations.
• Storm contract allegedly uploaded to NRL Gateway portal prior to Eels approval.
• Storm funding Lomax litigation (media release).
• Storm requested NRL “apply the blowtorch” to Parramatta to force them to accept Storm offer
• Storm allegedly threaten Eels that the NRL will impose salary cap sanctions on them (NRL denied this)
• Lomax signed provisional R360 agreement prior to Eels release.
These matters, if established, may go to:
• Bad faith conduct by Lomax
• Fait accompli conduct by Lomax
• Multiple Contractual breaches by Lomax
• Clean hands doctrine (Eels have clean hands, Lomax does not appear to)

NSW RESTRAINT OF TRADE FRAMEWORK; LIMBS
Under the Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) the Supreme Court may uphold or read down (e.g. trim the three years) a restraint only if:
• The restraint protects a legitimate business interest and goes no further than reasonably necessary (i.e. it is not punitive); and
• The restraint is not contrary to public interest.

CENTRAL QUESTIONS
• Does equity assist Lomax if proven to have engineered a fait accompli with bad faith conduct — as court discovery evidence point?
• Even if the Eels prove they acted in good-faith with clean hands with legitimate business interests, which I believe they have at all times and open to swap deals and releasing Lomax, and Lomax can play rugby league in the UK or rugby anywhere, is the practical effect of an NRL-exclusion until 31 October 2028 fair?

FOOTNOTES: TIMELINE OF KEY MEDIA ARTICLES AND PUBLIC RELEASES

Parramatta Eels, “Club Statement: Zac Lomax,” Eels Club, November 16, 2025, https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2025/11/16/club-statement-zac-lomax/. The Parramatta Eels can confirm that Zac Lomax has been granted an immediate release from his playing contract to pursue opportunities outside the NRL. The Club would like to thank Zac for his contribution during his time with the Eels in 2025 and we wish him all the best for the future.

NRL Media Release, “Anti-tampering rules,” NRL.com, January 2, 2026, https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/01/02/anti-tampering-rules/. Official league announcement outlining strengthened anti-tampering regulations effective 1 February 2026. Reinforces contract sanctity and compliance obligations. No litigation or discovery materials referenced; included as regulatory background relevant to the dispute.

Sam Kosack, “Eels CEO outlines conditions for Lomax to return to NRL,” Sports Nation NZ, January 15, 2026, https://sportnation.nz/article/nrl-2026-parramatta-eels-ceo-outlines-conditions-for-zac-lomax-to-return-to. “We agreed to certain terms with Zac as conditions of the release,” Sarantinos told The Daily Telegraph. “That was agreed to by Zac to give himself the opportunity to explore other options outside the NRL. “We made sure there were certain protections within the release for the period he was supposed to be under contract with us. He signed up for that. “Things obviously haven’t worked out the way he was expecting them to and he is now looking at other opportunities within the NRL. “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. I don’t see why we should be disadvantaged in that situation.”

Fox League, “Eels’ shock demand in Lomax swap deal as three-player shortlist revealed,” Fox Sports, January 16, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-storm-wont-be-only-club-to-chase-zac-lomax-where-could-he-play-next-will-storm-agree-to-player-swap-with-eels-reaction-update-kayo-sports-nrl-podcast-rugby-league-news/news-story/f8c65ff99b4e1ba5bec1c18475823d33. Jim Sarantinos sets the record straight.

Fox Sports, ”Eels boss reveals ‘suprising’ detail in shock Lomax exit and why Ryles really let Gutho walk," Fox Sports, January 17, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-eels-ceo-jim-sarantinos-opens-up-on-zac-lomax-surprising-decision-jason-ryles-clint-gutherson-genius-roster-moves-dylan-brown-news/news-story/061abe35ce001181632d7ff0b5cbb338. Eels boss Jim Sarantinos has publicly addressed Zac Lomax’s early walkout from the club, expressing his shock at the outside back’s stunning call. Fox Sports reports on a wide-ranging interview with Code Sports (January 15, 2026). Sarantinos also explains the departures of Clint Gutherson and Dylan Brown, and how Ryles impressed the club with his courage.

Parramatta Eels, “Parramatta Eels commence legal action to enforce agreement with Zac Lomax,” Parramatta Eels Official Website, January 22, 2026, https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2026/01/22/parramatta-eels-commence-legal-action-to-enforce-agreement-with-zac-lomax/. Official club statement announcing commencement of legal proceedings to enforce the terms of Lomax’s release agreement. Summarises the Eels’ contractual position and rationale for court action. References initiation of litigation but does not publish discovery documents.

Code Sport. Matt Tripp quoted in “Storm boss dragged into Lomax-Eels courtroom drama,” The Daily Telegraph, February 3, 2026, https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/melbourne-storm-boss-slams-eels-over-zac-lomax-contract-saga-ahead-of-court-hearing/news-story/46b13d15e0f8d2dfa470a2d5d9aca5cf.  Matt Tripp blasts the Eels: “Every time we’ve made them an offer to resolve this matter they’ve leaked it to the press and grandstanded,” and defends Lomax who “was unreliably informed that R360 was going ahead.”

Fox Sports Australia, “The second player pulled into Lomax’s Storm saga (Matto), as ugly backflip attempt exposed,” Fox Sports Australia, February 4, 2025, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-zac-lomax-parramatta-eels-release-new-details-melbourne-storm-court-case-legal-action-r360-news-videos-highlights/news-story/87bd609b882b47548dbcd83691ce24dc. Storm owner Matt Tripp claimed Lomax “genuinely had no intention of joining anything other than R360” and was “crucified for being sold a dream,” while Arthur Moses SC through court discovery alleged Lomax had entered preliminary agreements with both R360 and the Melbourne Storm without Parramatta’s approval. Discovery details also include Lomax’s reported admission he “had no desire to play rugby league again” when seeking release and a clause barring him from joining another NRL club before 2028 without Eels consent, central to Parramatta’s case.

Fox Sports, “He’s a human being’: V’landys set to backflip on Lomax’s 10-year ban for R360 defection,” Fox Sports, February 8, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-peter-vlandys-backflip-on-zac-lomax-10-year-ban-parramatta-eels-r360-melbourne-storm-arlc/news-story/740c85f335ba7544757fcd1f79d3ea7d. V’landys made representations it was in the public interest that Lomax was playing, and he should not be “crucified” and “not over-penalised.” “We all make mistakes. He’s made a mistake in thinking, but let’s not crucify the guy…”

Fox Sports Australia, “Unusual case’: NRL weighs up contract changes amid messy Lomax saga,” Fox Sports Australia, February 10, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-andrew-abdo-on-contracts-in-nrl-amid-zac-lomax-saga-parramatta-eels-melbourne-storm/news-story/6cf627d4230f057ae11c93f526210be2. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo says NRL may look at contract changes in light of the Lomax saga. Discovery details include Lomax’s reported admission he “had no desire to play rugby league again” and the clause barring him from joining another NRL club before 2028 without Eels consent.

Paul Crawley, “Big remaining question in Haas stunner; why Lomax claim is complete nonsense — Crawls,” Fox Sports Australia, February 12, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-michael-maguire-issues-at-rabbitohs-overworking-players-payne-haas-leaving-brisbane-broncos-zac-lomax-backflip-unfair-on-eels-paul-crawley-column-latest-news/news-story/a960e15934379e98e30c8b9090d361b0. Crawley says: "Any talk of Parramatta’s stance against Zac Lomax moving to Melbourne is a restraint of trade is just complete nonsense - and you’d reckon Parramatta should seize on this when this matter goes to the Supreme Court," suggesting he could play rugby or rugby league in "Australia, the UK, Japan or France, just to name a few options at his disposal."

Adrian Proszenko, “Storm ask NRL to apply blowtorch to Eels to force release,” Sydney Morning Herald, February 13, 2026, https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-asked-nrl-to-apply-the-blow-torch-to-get-lomax-transfer-done-20260213-p5o224.html. Reports that Melbourne sought NRL intervention to pressure Parramatta into releasing Lomax, using the phrase “apply the blowtorch.”

Matt Tripp, Storm co-ownder, accoring to court discovery documents allegedly threats made to the Eels that the NRL could sanction them if they didn't agree to Storm's demands.

Steve Zemek, “Get this done: Lomax saga takes sudden turn as alleged texts between Storm, NRL revealed,” Fox Sports Australia, February 13, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-alleged-text-messages-between-melbourne-storm-and-nrl-over-zac-lomax-contract-latest-news-parramatta-eels/news-story/5f094d9e785698693dde421eeda6fe1b. Focuses on alleged text messages between Storm officials and the NRL that reportedly emerged during legal proceedings.

Storm chief executive Justin Rodski (above) has also been caught up in the Lomax saga with his controversial communications with Andrew Abdo, NRL CEO asking him "put the blowtorch" on the Eels and "Get it done" (the Lomax deal). Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Adrian Proszenko, "NRL 2026: ARLC chairman Peter V’landys says Zac Lomax suffering a similar pile-on to South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell in dispute between Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm," Sydney Morning Herald,, February 15, 2026
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/as-bad-as-a-latrell-pile-on-why-nrl-fears-for-pariah-lomax-20260214-p5o2a3.html//www.foxsports.com.au
“I’m very concerned about his mental wellbeing,” V’landys said.
“People don’t understand that these guys have got families, they are human … I can tell you his mental state of health is not good, he’s not coping well with all of this.
“I want to get out there what his character is like because he’s painted like this villain – and he’s not,” he said.
V'landys goes on to describe a story, where Lomax drove to spend a whole day with a child with brain cancer.

Hello Sport, "All Talk with Peter V'landys", February 16, 2026.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxaWPbSh20s&t=1973s. From 32:53 V'landys lombasts R360 & reinforces his support for Lomax essentially repeating some of his points in the Sydney Morning Herald interview (Feb 15, a day earlier) in relation to Lomax's mental health, being falsely portrayed, and repeats his ancedotal example of a Lomax spending a day with a dying cancer patient many years ago.

SEN Radio,, "Hagipantelis: NRL should be concerned by Storm CEO's audacious texts," Lee Hagipantelis, am experienced lawyer talks to SEN, https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/02/17/nrl-2026-lee-hagipantelis-calls-out-storm-ceo-justin-rodski-over-texts-tow.youtube.com/watch?v=uxaWPbSh20s&t=1973s. 

Lee Hagipantelis, an experienced lawyer, said, “There is no doubt that these documents have been produced to the courts in response to a subpoena. It’s been reported and I understand it hasn’t been refuted, there was a text there from Rodski to Andrew AbdoAbdo represents the NRL (but) this is a private contractual dispute between Parramatta and a former employee.

"If a player is receiving money from any person as a way of inducing him to play for the club, then that money will be included in the Salary Cap." https://www.nrl.com/operations/integrity/salary-cap/

Foxsport, Breaking: NRL Dragged into Lomax saga as Eels issue urgent 48-hour court order, February 2th, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2026-zac-lomaxs-court-case-delayed-storm-chairman-in-las-vegas-eels-argue-crossexamination-must-be-done-in-person-news/news-story/c2aa433a9429f874a4c48f189e0903ca. 

“He (Tripp) is the one who of course who made the initial contact with Parramatta in respect of Lomax going across to the Storm,” Moses SC told Code Sports.

“He is the one who has given comfort to Mr Lomax by having the Melbourne Storm not only reach an agreement with him in respect of him playing with the Storm subject to contractual terms, but also indemnifying him in respect of the restraint that is now being said is invalid.

“Him and his lawyers not only assisted in the drafting of it, but agreed to its terms. He is a strategist behind the matter – he is not a witness.”

Adrian Proszenko, NRL Dragged Into Lomax Legal Stouch Against Eels, Sydney Morning Herald, February 25, 2026, https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-dragged-into-lomax-legal-stoush-against-eels-20260225-p5o5am.html.

The stakes have raised with the NRL officially being dragged into the Zac Lomax legal stoush after Parramatta issued an urgent subpoena to obtain documents relating to head office’s involvement in the matter.