Identity of Storm player offered to Eels set to be suppressed as Zac Lomax feud returns to court
The identity of a Storm player offered as part of a package for Zac Lomax could be suppressed when the long-running saga heads for an explosive courtroom showdown this week.
Adam Pengilly
3 min read
February 28, 2026 - 5:52PM
News Sport Network
NRL: Andrew Webster and Gorden Tallis engaged in a debate over whether or not Zac Lomax should be free to sign with the Parramatta Eels.
The identity of a Storm player offered as part of a package for the Eels to waive their rights to Zac Lomax could be suppressed when the long-running saga heads for an explosive courtroom showdown this week.
On the eve of the legal stoush which will hijack a lot of the build-up to the NRL’s first premiership matches in Australia for 2026, the mystery of who Melbourne were willing to release to gain Lomax could remain a secret if the Storm get their way.
While it was believed the Storm had refused to entertain a player exchange which would help placate the Eels – who frankly don’t need the money given how well the NRL subsidises clubs these days and after winning the Pre-Season Challenge – it’s not true.
The Storm had pitched the possibility of using a lower profile player as a makeweight in the deal.
The identity of a player offered to Parramatta in exchange for Zac Lomax is set to be hidden when the matter returns to court. Picture: Getty Images
Parramatta had identified Xavier Coates, Stefano Utoikamanu or Jack Howarth as acceptable swaps, but the Storm were never going to entertain any of that trio.
Once told who the player was, the Eels knew little about him.
It’s such a sensitive matter, the Storm and Lomax’s legal team are trying to have his name kept out of the hearing because he’s still at the club.
The Storm have given up trying to settle the matter with the Eels, despite earlier this week discussing an 11th-hour proposal to be forwarded by part-owner and chairman Matt Tripp.
Tripp is in Las Vegas for the NRL season opener and will give evidence in the Lomax case to the NSW Supreme Court once he returns to Australia. Neither Tripp nor the Storm are parties to the case, which the Eels brought against Lomax directly.
Parramatta were interested in a player like Xavier Coates (pictured), Stefano Utoikamanu or Jack Howarth in exchange, but the Storm were never going to consider that. Picture: Getty Images
Lomax has been blocked from playing after the Eels took legal action on suspicion the Storm were about to register an NRL contract for the representative winger to continue his career in Melbourne.
The 26-year-old was granted a release from the final three years of his Eels contract having told the club he intended to take up an offer with R360, the mooted breakaway global rugby union league which has since been delayed until 2028.
Lomax signed the deed of release confirming the Eels would have to approve any move to a rival NRL club before the end of his Parramatta deal.
It was a ballsy move from the Eels to put this whole legal train in motion, but it was even ballsier for their gun barrister Arthur Moses SC to subpoena the NRL to produce material relevant to their dealings with the Storm.
It draws the game’s top brass Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo into the skirmish.
ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo have been dragged into the legal stoush. Picture: NRL Imagery
Parramatta’s suspicion is the Storm have been emboldened in their pursuit of Lomax because of backing from the NRL. The NRL deny this is the case.
The Eels have seemingly united a majority of NRL fans, who see this as a line-in-the-sand moment for rugby league contracts being treated like confetti.
It’s usually on the steps of the court that parties agree to put their weapons down and prevent airing all their dirty laundry, but the Eels seem emboldened to not let this go.
Privately, they believe they need to take a stand on principle, but don’t discount the backlash they fear from passionate fans, as well as Lomax’s old teammates, if he was allowed to walk into the warm cocoon of Craig Bellamy for little in return.
In material released by the court, Storm chief executive Justin Rodski sent a now infamous text to NRL boss Andrew Abdo asking for the governing body to “apply the blowtorch” to the Eels over a lack of progress in negotiations.
At best, it was ill conceived. At worst, it was a window into how the Storm thought they could use the NRL to leverage a deal to get Lomax.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski infamously texted NRL boss Andrew Abdo asking for the NRL to “apply the blowtorch” to the Eels over a lack of progress in negotiations. Picture: Getty Images
It should be a private contractual matter between the two clubs.
Expect more gritty detail to come out in court, if not the mystery player the Storm were willing to send to Sydney.
As for Lomax?
He made an impulsive and silly decision to chase the fantasy riches being offered by R360, which V’landys warned was “as a competition out of a Corn Flakes box”.
Lomax could have thought even if R360 did hit a roadblock, a cashed-up rugby union club in France or Japan would do.
Now, Tripp (who has agreed to cover Lomax’s legal costs) is trying to help his welfare as well as coax him to the club.
Asked how often they keep in contact, Tripp said: “Three times a day. Literally.
“It’s really sad for me to sit back and watch. I do have a concern for his welfare.
“I get a few things wrong, but I think I’m a reasonable judge of character. He’s a good young man who has made a couple of judgment errors. It breaks my heart.”
