V’landys denies favouritism towards Storm & Lomax; Parra Leagues to back case "to the bitter end"

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.”

"Glad Pete is ok about him joining a different club st last...coz clearly Melbourne aren't gonna release any of the three we wanted to us per our offer (nor do they want to come). So we move onto the open market of the other fifteen now hopefully. …"

"This is getting better and better. Vlandy is now seems to be changing his tune about Lomax with Melbourne will be good for the game. And with the mediation cum ambush meeting mentioned by Beach will be a very interesting discussion of he said, he…"

"Thats exactly right LB, no one has stood up to them in the way that we have. We have kept infront of everything theyve thrown at us and kept our cool which has annoyed them even more. I feel once this is all done and dusted the NRL will have…"

Replies

Muttman February 21, 2026 at 2:37pm

Make no mistake, V'Landys is in this up to his eyeballs. He thought he could simply bulldoze this through. He thought as Chairman of the NRL he had the ultimate authority and could simply decree what was to happen. Sorry Peter, the NSW Supreme Court would like a word. Maybe sit this one out. V'Landys has been caught red-handed favouring one club over another. This is magnificent!!!
- LB > Muttman February 21, 2026 at 3:20pm
  
  Plus, he thought we are weak and will toe the line as we and many other clubs have for the last so many years. Finally one has cracked and they do not know how to respond so they go to the media to plead their case and has made it worse.
  - Stevo > LB February 21, 2026 at 3:30pm
    
    Thats exactly right LB, no one has stood up to them in the way that we have. We have kept infront of everything theyve thrown at us and kept our cool which has annoyed them even more. I feel once this is all done and dusted the NRL will have completly new leadership at the top
- macybrown > Muttman February 21, 2026 at 4:24pm
  
  Glad Pete is ok about him joining a different club st last...coz clearly Melbourne aren't gonna release any of the three we wanted to us per our offer (nor do they want to come). So we move onto the open market of the other fifteen now hopefully.
  
  ... or Lomax plays union, boxing, MMA or PlayStation.
  
  his bed
EA February 21, 2026 at 2:38pm

I hope Moretti and Richie are not injured because they only played 10 and 20min of the cup trial lol. I didn't notice any injury
- EA > EA February 21, 2026 at 2:40pm
  
  Nvm Moretti back on the field. Weird his opening stint was 10min
  - Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > EA February 21, 2026 at 3:12pm
    
    How are you receiving the coverage ea. Bar ?
    - EA > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 February 21, 2026 at 3:15pm
      
      Yes
  - LB > EA February 21, 2026 at 3:18pm
    
    Strange how they are using him, was he an HIA assessment?
TolEllts February 21, 2026 at 4:19pm

This is getting better and better. Vlandy is now seems to be changing his tune about Lomax with Melbourne will be good for the game. And with the mediation cum ambush meeting mentioned by Beach will be a very interesting discussion of he said, he said.

Like the way truth is coming out in favour of our Eels. Kudos to Beach, Sarantinos and most especially to Atrhur Moses. Power on!