The Rumours Thread

[SnowDragon]

The problem with what you are suggesting is that Parra has moved on and signed a replacement player and may not have the cap space to resign Lomax. You then say if that is the situation then they should let him go. What this does is then open the door to unscrupulous clubs and managers and players saying they have fallen out of love with league, get a release, then a month later saying they have changed their minds and want to return and their last club is left high and dry. If as reported Storm are offering a 200k transfer fee, it is of no use to Parra, they have lost a rep player and they are very difficult to replace.

I think Parra are being reasonable with Storm. They have listed 3 players they are happy to swap for. It's not as if they have said no or we will only swap with Munster or Grant who are the Storms key playmakers.

200k ain’t bad, more than we got and more than they would have got for him to go outside the nrl (maybe we should have made such an arrangement, but I guess getting him off the books was deemed enough by Flanno). But regardless of the deal, Parra have the power due to the legal agreements, and if they can’t come to terms then so be, Lomax can box or play rugby.

 

[Stewartliddle]

Lomax got out of his 650k a year contract with the Eels and is going to sign with a better team for a similar figure or more.. His manager has fleeced the Eels and the NRL. I think he will send Bellamy to the nuthouse after his 4th flick into row 12 so I hope he signs it will be good viewing NRL always bends the rules for certain teams so this is no different he will be playing round 1 somewhere glad it's not with us

 

[Trifili13]

I'm just saying that if Parra don't want to take him back then I believe the court will rule it unreasonable to not allow him to play for another club.

But Parra are allowing Lomax to play for the Storm so long as they get adequately compensated. They have listed 3 players they are happy to swap him for. Why should Storm get a test level player for 200k which is useless to Parra in terms of replacing a rep winger?

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I don't feel sorry for Lomax at all. I'm just saying that if Parra don't want to take him back then I believe the court will rule it unreasonable to not allow him to play for another club. I don't think anyone has seen the contract details apart from a select few so all these rumours about the release terms are heresay and sound a little far-fetched to me.

I understand your skepticism but the eels themselves have published the details of the clause which Lomax hasn’t contested publicly.

Lomax isn’t being prevented from working per se, he can still compete in another code and in other comps.

The eels are just saying that he made an agreement with them, properly advised, no coercion, he didn’t have to sign but he was happy to be bound by its terms.

Now he turns around and wants to breach it. It’s all too late Zac.

His skills are easily transferable to the union, and what’s more, he actually entered into a contract with the union so he can’t really say he’s league-only.

Plus evidence other union clubs are happy to offer him a safe and lucrative harbour until 360 rocks up properly.

 

[The Word]

But Parra are allowing Lomax to play for the Storm so long as they get adequately compensated. They have listed 3 players they are happy to swap him for. Why should Storm get a test level player for 200k which is useless to Parra in terms of replacing a rep winger?

Because they are willing to recruit and pay him? And 200k is just the transfer fee not the salary. Why should they have to give up one of their players? Parra don't automatically deserve to get whatever player they want or untold riches just because they agreed to let him go.
Anyway I find I'm going down a rabbit hole here and probably boring myself and everyone to death so let's agree to disagree lol.

 

[Slippery Morris]

So the Eels were happy for Zac to break his contract at the Saints and have these talks with him to cause friction with Zac and his club, but are now not letting Zac break a contract even though they release him but put some stupid restriction of trade clause that he can't join any NRL club for 3 years or so if R360 fails.

It is a pretty unique situation Zac is in, how was he to know R360 would be delayed. This is karma and Parra showing their arrogance again thinking they are better than others. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. They released him like Saints had to and that should be the end of it.

For any form of employment that clause would never have been allowed. A clause where I will let you work for this company, but if it fails you cannot work for a competitor for 3 years. That is rubbish and again Zac's management should never let a clause like that exist. The Manager just wanted his pay. Poor management. He should be talked about more than Parra and Zac. Pathetic service and should be de-registered.

 

[Trifili13]

If one of our young guns says tomorrow I have lost my love of league and don't want to play any more, we release them with the same terms as Parra have released Lomax, and a month later they want to return and play for say the Dogs or Storm, this place would blow up with abuse against that player and club.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

So the Eels were happy for Zac to break his contract at the Saints and have these talks with him to cause friction with Zac and his club, but are now not letting Zac break a contract even though they release him but put some stupid restriction of trade clause that he can't join any NRL club for 3 years or so if R360 fails.

It is a pretty unique situation Zac is in, how was he to know R360 would be delayed. This is karma and Parra showing their arrogance again thinking they are better than others. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. They released him like Saints had to and that should be the end of it.

For any form of employment that clause would never have been allowed. A clause where I will let you work for this company, but if it fails you cannot work for a competitor for 3 years. That is rubbish and again Zac's management should never let a clause like that exist. The Manager just wanted his pay. Poor management. He should be talked about more than Parra and Zac. Pathetic service and should be de-registered.

Restrictions on future employers if you leave, firms often do that. I’ve got one on me now, I think all our employees do.

Zacs agent and lawyers should have thought about it and insisted on getting rid of it.

Most fans and their dogs forsaw that 360 was still in its infancy and unsettled. Zac and his team missed it.

Pretty basic stuff imho.

A whole new comp and all of what is needed to get that going, every chance there’s hiccups.

 

[dragon thomo]

FFS you lot we must not have any news around if we keep talking about Lomax. Find some other topic because he is old news to our club.

 

[Trifili13]

So the Eels were happy for Zac to break his contract at the Saints and have these talks with him to cause friction with Zac and his club, but are now not letting Zac break a contract even though they release him but put some stupid restriction of trade clause that he can't join any NRL club for 3 years or so if R360 fails.

It is a pretty unique situation Zac is in, how was he to know R360 would be delayed. This is karma and Parra showing their arrogance again thinking they are better than others. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. They released him like Saints had to and that should be the end of it.

For any form of employment that clause would never have been allowed. A clause where I will let you work for this company, but if it fails you cannot work for a competitor for 3 years. That is rubbish and again Zac's management should never let a clause like that exist. The Manager just wanted his pay. Poor management. He should be talked about more than Parra and Zac. Pathetic service and should be de-registered.

Lomax getting a release from the Dragon's and Parra are different situations. The Dragon's would have been fully aware he was going to another NRL club and inserting a non-compete clause similar to what Parra did would not stand up in court. With Parra, Lomax would have said I want to go to rugby or boxing so they said OK we will release you so long as you don't turn around during the remainder of your contract term and join another NRL club.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Lomax getting a release from the Dragon's and Parra are different situations. The Dragon's would have been fully aware he was going to another NRL club and inserting a non-compete clause similar to what Parra did would not stand up in court. With Parra, Lomax would have said I want to go to rugby or boxing so they said OK we will release you so long as you don't turn around during the remainder of your contract term and join another NRL club.

Flanno said the SGI relationship ended when Zac wouldn’t agree to play on the wing.

So there’s a stand off between coach and player.

I think it was possible Zac would have stayed at SGI if he was granted his wish.

But that would have involved Flanno compromising his own footy beliefs and in his mind, not giving the club his best.

Then If the other players saw Flanno giving way to Zac, then they could get their own ideas. We all know what sooks players can be.

Even if Flanno was wrong and Zac stuffed up the wing, the town was still saved.

 

[RedVee]

Flanno said the SGI relationship ended when Zac wouldn’t agree to play on the wing.

So there’s a stand off between coach and player.

I think it was possible Zac would have stayed at SGI if he was granted his wish.

But that would have involved Flanno compromising his own footy beliefs and in his mind, not giving the club his best.

Then If the other players saw Flanno giving way to Zac, then they could get their own ideas. We all know what sooks players can be.

Even if Flanno was wrong and Zac stuffed up the wing, the town was still saved.

We could have put a restriction on Zac when he was agitating to get a release. I assume we thought it wasn’t worth the hassle.
To Zac’s credit he played out the season and put in full effort, only left after the season.
Unlike F Molo who started the preseason training and left prior to Round 1.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

We could have put a restriction on Zac when he was agitating to get a release. I assume we thought it wasn’t worth the hassle.
To Zac’s credit he played out the season and put in full effort, only left after the season.
Unlike F Molo who started the preseason training and left prior to Round 1.

That’s all true.

His last season at SGI broke all the rules and beliefs about the sacred art of improving players in slow and careful measure. He simply exploded!

You’d hate to think how much better he would’ve been in that role after a few more years under Flanno. How much more he could have given and perhaps, how much happier he could’ve been.

People make rash decisions.

 

[Gareth67]

Parra should stand Their Ground....when is a contract a contract ?

It's getting ridiculous.

Just so getsmarty , to me that is the crux of the problem, just what is that piece of paper - known as a contract truly worth ? It must be understood that both parties agreed to it and also the conditions within the contract .

Lomax could not wait to get away from Parramatta once a bigger dollar deal was presented to him and as said he did agreed to the conditions placed upon him to obtain his release .

Of course The Eels then naturally used his money to sign another player . So Parramatta have no case to answer as far as restriction of trade is concerned .If he now wishes to play for any club then it should be he , Lomax that is required to pay Parramatta for the money that they have payed out for a replacement player.

What Melbourne wants is neither here nor there , they were fully aware of the conditions of Lomax’s release as it was published in every 2 bob newspaper from Hobart to Darwin and had no right to approach him .

It is up to the NRL and Vlandy’s in particular to support the Eels in this and by so doing ensuring that everyone, clubs , players and their grubby agents fully understand that a contract is indeed iron clad .

I believe that this is the reason why we the fans of another club are actively discussing this at the moment- as it has already occurred to the Dragons with Lomax , Molo and Hunt all wishing to have their contracts terminated earlier than the agreed time leaving St.George Illawarra holding nothing but thin air as the NRL did nothing to support the Big Red V .

 

[qld redvee]

Just so getsmarty , to me that is the crux of the problem, just what is that piece of paper - known as a contract truly worth ? It must be understood that both parties agreed to it and also the conditions within the contract .

Lomax could not wait to get away from Parramatta once a bigger dollar deal was presented to him and as said he did agreed to the conditions placed upon him to obtain his release .

Of course The Eels then naturally used the ‘ vacant ‘ money to sign another player . So Parramatta have no case to answer as far as restriction of trade is concerned .If he now wishes to play for any club the it should be he , Lomax that is required to pay Parramatta for the money that they have payed out for a replacement player.

What Melbourne wants is neither here nor there , they were fully aware of the conditions of Lomax’s release as it was published in every 2 bob newspaper from Hobart to Darwin available and had no right to approach him .

It is up to the NRL and Vlandy’s in particular to support the Eels in this and by so doing ensuring that everyone, clubs , players and their grubby agents fully understand that a contract is indeed iron clad .

And Zac was i think offered a deal from Western force ? In rugby, obviously a lower deal. SO let's wait for an nrl deal

 

[Mojo]

Agree that there’s likely to be a legal view re restraint of trade or unreasonable / non enforceable / oppressive contract condition if this ends up in court.

The contractual relationship between Parra and Lomax originated and ended in ‘dirty deeds’ with the result being a lose / lose situation. Suck eggs.

The NRL’s habit of playing favourites has inevitably created a scenario in which it will have to create a very dubious precedent that will weaken its authority if it now facilitates a resolution. Inevitable!
It’s very hard to enforce rules and standards when you exercise such little respect for them.

 

[redv13]

God bless Fawlty Towers, still makes me laugh even though I’ve seen every episode plenty of times

 

[VodkaSaint]

And Zac was i think offered a deal from Western force ? In rugby, obviously a lower deal. SO let's wait for an nrl deal

So he thinks he is a force to be reckoned with

 

[Hound of Dracula]

FFS you lot we must not have any news around if we keep talking about Lomax. Find some other topic because he is old news to our club.

100%
Turn your fans on and blow the Lomax stench away
Once done you may smell the excitement building for Saturday, February 7, 2026, The first NRL pre-season games including Dragons vs Knights

Can't wait

 

[The Word]

Can anyone point me i the right direction for the fixture list / game information for our pathway teams? I'm keen to take in some of their games this season but can't work out where the information is.