Andrew Webster in The Australian

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/tripp-of-the-tongue-peter-vlandys-denies-favouritism-towards-melbourne-storm-and-zac-lomax/news-story/414f948cb92878c7c7f6022ac4083bee

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has slammed talk he wants rugby league outcast Zac Lomaxto join the Melbourne Storm as a favour to their chairman, bookmaker Matt Tripp, declaring: “If there’s one person I wouldn’t help, it would be him.”

As Parramatta and Lomax head towards a showdown in the NSW Supreme Court on March 2, all sorts of theories are getting around about why the NRL has seemingly pitted itself against the Eels.

One is looming broadcast negotiations. A strong Storm is critical. The other is V’landys helping Tripp because of their long-term relationship through racing. Eels officials are conscious of it, even if they haven’t expressed it publicly.

“Matt Tripp took me all the way to the High Court in the race-fields case, which has generated billions of dollars for racing,” V’landys told his column in a lengthy interview this week. “He’s the last person I’d help.”

The Eels are sceptical. They’re expected to argue in court that a phone hook-up involving V’landys, Tripp, Beach, and RLPA boss Clint Newton was more “ambush” than mediation. They will also tell the court the Storm were privy to possible salary cap implications if they did not release Lomax – information that could only have come from the NRL.

From the very beginning of this dispute, their rich leagues club has told Beach and chief executive Jim Sarantinos that it will back them until the bitter end.

Why should they cave in? Lomax told them he wanted a release from the final three years of his deal to play in a competition that appears to have been conceived on the back of a beer coaster.

If Lomax was naive enough to walk away from one contract without any real certainty around the R360 competition, it’s on him.

V’landys bristles at the claim he’s sided with the Storm in this dispute.

“I’m not keen for Zac Lomax to join Melbourne,” he insisted. “He can join whatever club that wants him. If the Wests Tigers want him, I’d be just as happy for him to go them. Or if Manly want him. I just don’t want Zac Lomax to be lost to rugby league.”

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  • Peter himself wont but Andrew or some other stooge will

  • Matt Tripp took me all the way to the High Court in the race-fields case, which has generated billions of dollars for racing...The Greasy Weasel is proclaiming that going against his decrees is ludicrous as he is always right...beelions of dooklas I tell ya.

    Of course he has helped Matt Tripp out. This is a smokescreen. V’landys bristles at the claim he’s sided with the Storm ....LOL. He is bristley because we had the audacity to call out his shenanigans.

    This is a desperation statement. The dents are adding up. His image is oxidizing before his eyes and he needs to get some more paint on it.

    Slippery Pete is flapping and his lies are gonna trap him....don't believe a word he fucking says. Watch his action, or lack thereof, to see the truth...just like Trump

    • I was reading this morning about the US supreme Court's ruling on Donnie's tariffs. Be interesting to see what happens to the stock market.

      • I gazed into my crystal bong and it told me that the Mullahs in Iran see the armada gathering off their coast, realise regime change is happening and go scorched earth. Taking out all Gulf oil terminals is within their abilities. Stock Market gonna love that

         

      • And now Trump will play extra dirty...will Pete? 

        • If Randy was stranded on a desert island, who do you think he would prefer for company Trumpy or V'Landy? He seems to have great affection for them both

          • Can't blame him.

            Me, I'd go for Pete there's a little bit of relief during kinda shortened off season ...sometimes.

            lookswise there's nothing in it eww

            • Onya Mace, you're both good judges of character

          • So what you're actually asking me is who I'd prefer to beat with a coconut?

    • Yeah the fact he came out and pretty much responded to the favouritism chat, shows he is listening and is concerned as well. He could have not commented with the approach of I'm the boss and can do as pleased but he is concerned. 

      Let's be honest though, if we lose this case, him, Newton and Tripp will be getting Lomax out for nothing. Telling us to pull our heads in.

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