He had a deal with the Dragons for 2026, reported to be worth $875,000, and he could likely have supplemented that with match payments at representative level: $30,000 for a State of Origin appearance and $3000 for a Test.
Yet, more than 12 months ago, Lomax sought a release, and the Dragons agreed to terminate the final two years of his deal, allowing him to accept a four-season offer from Parramatta.
Players agitating to leave a club for richer rewards elsewhere is nothing new.
What made Lomax’s move to the Eels intriguing was that he was apparently content to accept a 20 per cent pay cut, dropping to about $700,000 a season.
Now, after just one year in the blue and gold, Lomax has again secured a release, in a move that appears likely to culminate in him switching codes to rugby union.
Initially, there was talk the 26-year-old was in the sights of the rebel Rugby 360 competition, which has since deferred its proposed launch date until 2028.
https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5nft5
That leaves him to ponder two-year deals tabled by Super Rugby franchises the ACT Brumbies and Western Force.
Were Lomax to sign a Super Rugby maximum contract of $220,000 a year and then play all the Wallabies’ 2026 Test matches (a very unlikely scenario), he would stand to earn almost $400,000.
A top-up deal from Rugby Australia, which is no guarantee, could further boost his earnings.