Pvl is being a muppet on this issue
Walters is sucking up so Pvl extends him as Australia coach
If he has to come back make it to the bears or nobody like when Folau wanted to come back and they said it had to be the titans
“ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys claims Zac Lomax has been “crucified” and has backed his return to rugby league as the NSW Origin star wages a legal fight to resurrect his NRL career.
V’landys’ stance came as Australia coach Kevin Walters came out swinging in defence of Lomax, scoffing at suggestions the serial contract quitter should be banished to the sidelines for walking out on the Eels.
Breaking his silence on the messy legal saga, V’landys has thrown his support behind Lomax, and confirmed the underfire former Eels ace will not cop a 10-year ban over his negotiations with the rebel R360 movement.
Lawyers for Lomax and Parramatta have spent recent days locked in legal argument with the player himself due to front the NSW Supreme Court this Thursday if a resolution cannot be reached in coming days.
V’landys is watching proceedings closely.
It is understood Parramatta powerbrokers have voiced their concern to V’landys over Lomax’s potential move to the Storm without an appropriate form of compensation for the Eels, who authorised his release on strict conditions.
One of those included Lomax not playing for another NRL rival for three years - he intended to switch codes with R360 - but the former Eel has found heavyweight political support in the ARLC boss.
“Look, it’s always been my view to keep our best players,” V’landys said, launching a passionate defence of Lomax.
“Zac is a marquee player. He’s an extraordinary player.
“One thing people have forgotten here and it’s a little bit sad, is that he’s also a human being.
“Yes, he tried to look at another deal and why would anyone knock a bloke that’s trying to do the best for himself?
“I’m an old-fashioned guy, where I believe a contract should be honoured. You sign a contract, you should honour it. But at the same time, I can see he’s a young guy that’s going to try to set himself up for life, and, and he looks at all opportunities.
“We all make mistakes. He’s made a mistake in thinking, but let’s not crucify the guy.
“I’m looking at it in two ways. Firstly, Zac is a human being and secondly, as far as rugby League is concerned, my job is to have the best players playing rugby league.”
V’landys said he would await the full outcome of Lomax’s court battle but hopes a resolution can be reached for the backline powerhouse to return to the NRL this season.
Asked if the NRL would register a new deal for Lomax - and waive a prospective 10-year R360 ban - V’landys said: “Absolutely.
“Like I said, our job is to have the best players in the game.
“We’re going to allow the court process to take its course, and we’ll make decisions after that.
“But no, he won’t get a 10-year ban.
“We haven’t seen what’s coming out of the courts yet, so just wait.
“But I believe he signed everything before we made any announcement (on the R360 ban), so he didn’t take it forward after that.
“When we introduced the 10-year bans, we said we would look at everything on its merit. And if there were unforeseen circumstances the ban wouldn’t apply.
“At this stage, we haven’t seen any evidence to suggest that he signed anything (with R360) after we announced the ban.
“I saw a quote where someone said, ‘Someone sold him a dream, and it became a nightmare’, and it’s so true.
“I would have counselled him. If I was advising him, that a contract’s a contract, and you honour a contract, that’s what I would advise him.
“Zac went down a different path, but at the same time, don’t over-penalise him.”
National coach Walters appealed for V’landys to allow Lomax to return to the code.
“I bet Zac Lomax is playing in the NRL this year,” Walters said on his Inside Ball podcast.
“Is it fair on them (Parramatta) to say to Zac Lomax you cannot play in the NRL ... it’s a restriction of trade.
“This guy has a timeline of his official capacity to earn money.
“Contracts don’t mean anything. I had a contract with the Broncos (when Walters was dismissed in 2024). I didn’t get paid out. I got paid nowhere near the amount I was owed.
“Yes, Lomax asked to leave. He could go back to the Eels but they don’t want him.
“The clubs don’t care about players, all the time they are getting them on the players’ market.
“I’m defending Zac Lomax to play the game.
“Zac Lomax will be playing for the Melbourne Storm ... but he won’t be playing in round 1 against the Eels.”
