Rumours and Stuff

[Someone2]

Howarth isn’t enough throw in Joe chan also

 

[Parra Pride]

Deadset if we bend the f**k over and let f**king Melbourne of all f**king teams walk into one of the best wingers in the comp it's f**ked. Lomax can go f**k himself the shit eating rat.

 

[lingard]

Wouldn't mind that - big body, young. Could be handy.

The pride thread?

 

[Gronk]

Saul Goodman told me that arguing restraint of trade based on a closed market won’t hold water, when the player was seeking to change codes and play in Europe. Accordingly his market now includes UK, France, Japan, USA across two codes.

Anywho, the reality is that there will probably be a settlement. He will play for Storm and the Eels will be compensated. Cash won’t do us any good, we need to an argue roster boost. Hence the rumours of Howarth.

I suspect that we will come out worse off. Storm the lucky ones. Zac our new villain.

Vlandys won’t get involved. He’s already pretty much endorsed this scenario.

“Zac and Ryan Papenhuyzen have signed no deals with R360, so of course they are welcome back to our game, absolutely they are. It’s sad they were hoodwinked by this mirage that was R360.”

‘Hoodwinked’: V’landys says Lomax welcome back in NRL – but don’t expect Eels reunion

Having been released from his $700,000-a-year Parramatta contract, Zac Lomax has been left in limbo after R360 pushed back its proposed start date to 2028.

www.smh.com.au

 

[hindy111]

First they ballsed up the Blaize deal.
Then they f**ked up the Galvin deal.
Then Pezet signs on loan basicaly.Another fail.
After that we missed out on KK to the Dragons.
Honestly I wouldnt expect much. If we come out of this with a NSW cup player we are doing well.....

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I suspect that we will come out worse off.

We have gotten rid of him and signed two top 17 players with his money.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I have heard some rumours about the storm since the GF loss but i also wonder if Bellamy is finally finishing up and there starting to change the way about how they do business.

Or the fact they have lost 2 GFs in a row as the higher ranked side that things need to be done differently to what has been done previously.

They have let go of Paps & NAS early from there contracts.

For the past 10-15 years the Storm have never let players go early even when signed elsewhere and have used the fact there always top 4 and competing for premierships as a lure to hold players to the end of there contracts.

I know from a very strong source he was told by someone down there at the Storm they actually feel from the review they completed at the end of last year they haven't recovered from the loss of Ryles who the players conveyed was a major piece of the puzzle as a 2IC he was able to challenge them in different ways and was very hands on as a assistant down there which the younger players loved..

Which sounds crazy but ever since July 2024 when he was able to finish up early to concentrate on Parra duties they have lost 2 GFs in a row and obviously in 2025 there defence wasn't as strong as previous years.

But back on Zac Lomax he is almost the opposite type of character/personality they generally want at that football club.

There a very cult/military like close knit family club down there who stick together with not many rogue soldiers who are out there Zac seems to be

They have spoken about for years they have to pass the "Storm character test" to get a look in and meet the values and culture.

Players are forced into doing a week in the community on job sites and Bellamy/Storm then get more external feedback to find out what type of character these guys are picking up.

Going off Zac's contract dramas does he really fit the so called "Melbourne Storm" culture or is it just another myth and facade down there.

Perhaps there is more desperation down there to win a premiership and that flexing & changing there values is a way to get over the line.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'd say every club would be inclined to overlook character flaws to varying degrees, the more talent a player has.

 

[Twizzle]

I'd say every club would be inclined to overlook character flaws to varying degrees, the more talent a player has.

much like the bald one who shall not be named

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Every coach. Matterson was at the Chooks for three years, for example. Brandon Smith has never been out of work. He has played 150+ NRL games at three big clubs, or two big clubs and Souths anyway.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Melbourne have invested years into Howarth. I just can’t see them giving him away for Flakey Zach

 

[Stagger eel]

We have gotten rid of him and signed two top 17 players with his money.

what about Drown, Carty and Lanes money?

 

[AnonymousLurker]

I have heard some rumours about the storm since the GF loss but i also wonder if Bellamy is finally finishing up and there starting to change the way about how they do business.

Or the fact they have lost 2 GFs in a row as the higher ranked side that things need to be done differently to what has been done previously.

They have let go of Paps & NAS early from there contracts.

For the past 10-15 years the Storm have never let players go early even when signed elsewhere and have used the fact there always top 4 and competing for premierships as a lure to hold players to the end of there contracts.

I know from a very strong source he was told by someone down there at the Storm they actually feel from the review they completed at the end of last year they haven't recovered from the loss of Ryles who the players conveyed was a major piece of the puzzle as a 2IC he was able to challenge them in different ways and was very hands on as a assistant down there which the younger players loved..

Which sounds crazy but ever since July 2024 when he was able to finish up early to concentrate on Parra duties they have lost 2 GFs in a row and obviously in 2025 there defence wasn't as strong as previous years.

But back on Zac Lomax he is almost the opposite type of character/personality they generally want at that football club.

There a very cult/military like close knit family club down there who stick together with not many rogue soldiers who are out there Zac seems to be

They have spoken about for years they have to pass the "Storm character test" to get a look in and meet the values and culture.

Players are forced into doing a week in the community on job sites and Bellamy/Storm then get more external feedback to find out what type of character these guys are picking up.

Going off Zac's contract dramas does he really fit the so called "Melbourne Storm" culture or is it just another myth and facade down there.

Perhaps there is more desperation down there to win a premiership and that flexing & changing there values is a way to get over the line.

when have had immortal like spines for 20 years and being top of the food chain easy to play up to things like character tests when rest of the squad is made up of workers

storm are on the way down and they know it , i said it numerous times last year , they weren’t the storm of old the entire season

 

[Gary Gutful]

It was Marion Seve in that Roosters game

Let’s get him then.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Simrani to the wing ? HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Not much of a burn when you cant even spell his name right despite it being pointed out several times.

 

[viole02]

Although zac has left two teams early and makes a lot of dumb ass mistakes i will say while playing he does seem to give everything and seems pretty friendly with lots of former clubmates. Wouldnt be surprised if he does fit the storm culture work ethic wise.

Hate the fact that hell probably make the storm much better and is probably enough to make them favourites to win again. We really need to milk as much out of the storm as possible. They seem to be focussed on their closing premiership window over the next 1-3 years so may be willing to give up future prospects like their young winger in addition to howarth. Dont follow the storm so unsure what other young prospects they have. Its all about how we negotiate.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

what about Drown, Carty and Lanes money?

We signed a dozen new players last year. We aren’t the Roosters ffs, who sign players on massive unders and then mysteriously free up $800k when they leave. Drown announced he was leaving before round two. After that we bought Walker and TDS and activated JAC’s option. Lane’s 2026 component was mutual, so his side of the MO wouldn’t have been huge. It could have easily been spent on JDB, a player who played better footy in 2025 than Lane has for three years.

 

[Timana]

Although zac has left two teams early and makes a lot of dumb ass mistakes i will say while playing he does seem to give everything and seems pretty friendly with lots of former clubmates. Wouldnt be surprised if he does fit the storm culture work ethic wise.

Hate the fact that hell probably make the storm much better and is probably enough to make them favourites to win again. We really need to milk as much out of the storm as possible. They seem to be focussed on their closing premiership window over the next 1-3 years so may be willing to give up future prospects like their young winger in addition to howarth. Dont follow the storm so unsure what other young prospects they have. Its all about how we negotiate.

I think he really does put in but i think he might also go against coach's instructions like throwing stupid passes or making stupid decisions.

He basically does what he thinks but maybe not for the best interest of the team

 

[JokerEel]

We signed a dozen new players last year. We aren’t the Roosters ffs, who sign players on massive unders and then mysteriously free up $800k when they leave. Drown announced he was leaving before round two. After that we bought Walker and TDS and activated JAC’s option. Lane’s 2026 component was mutual, so his side of the MO wouldn’t have been huge. It could have easily been spent on JDB, a player who played better footy in 2025 than Lane has for three years.

Honestly happy with the Walker TDS for Brown while we have Pezet fill a hole while we develop our own player for 5/8.

 

[Glenneel]

I don’t feel sorry for Lomax but highly likely he took $100k+ less to leave Drags for us and potentially IN WHAT SHOULD BE HIS PRIME EARNING YEARS he’s going to cut another $100k+ to move again.

I speculate that potentially they are in a win now mindset as Bellamy is probably on his farewell tour, Cunster isn’t getting younger, they’ll probably have to sell the farm eventually to keep Grant and the junior factory isn’t the diamond mine of the mid 2000s. They would possibly be willing to give up more than other teams. It won’t be Coates like people wishfully wanted earlier. I’d say that someone at Meaney level is probably the tipping point (particularly because he can kick goals). Howarth is probably slightly less than what we want. But also we have signed Kelly so we’re not going to get the same value (at least in backline) coming back the other way way.

Speaking of Kelly, it isn’t a coincidence the Lomax news came straight after Kelly was officially announced. I think we’re the ones who’ve blinked first (perhaps @emjaycee may know more - he seemed to be questioning whether Kelly was official for awhile), and Lomax and Scum have pounced as we’re in a weaker position then prior to Kelly.

Isn't Meaney going to Perth Bears?