Saw this post on Reddit just now, and it delves deeper into my long-held theory that the Lomax wanted out because of boxing. Again - this is all copy-pasted. Not my work.
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There was this rumour going around about Zac Lomax wanting to do boxing on the side, so I decided to be an internet detective on my day off and look into it.
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***PSA: This is pure speculation, there is no proof to any of this. All of it is alleged. I also have consumed copious amounts of energy drinks before 9am and am buzzing like a motherfker atm.***
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Zac Lomax has stated he won't comment on why he's left the club, despite stating that he loves the Dragons. Which is odd because as the article states, he was due to get $850K and $875K for the last 2 years of his contract. While at Parra, he's rumoured to be getting $2.6 million over 4 years, which is only $650K per year. So why would he leave a club he loves in order to go to a club that's currently not doing well and on less money?
My theory, he was given extremely terrible advice by two former Dragons who are his mates.
Trent Merrin and Jake Marketo, who both played for the Dragons and were part of our 2010 premiership team, run a couple of companies post-footy. There is Azure Partners which claims to be "*Australia's Premium Athlete Advisory*" and then there's Freeze Yourself, a company that deals with ice-baths.
Zac has been featured in photos for both Azure and Freeze, likely due to his friendship with the pair. Now for the detectives reading this, you've likely noticed that Azure Partners are also linked to Curtis Scott, who has now ventured into boxing. Well, that's because they have. No Limit's CEO is George Rose, who himself is a former NRL player. So it makes sense for these former NRL Players to be working together to make their respective companies flourish and grow.
They've likely got a deal with No Limit Boxing to get them people to join up. Now, Zac has an interest in boxing and an article was released last year where Jason Saab wanted to fight Zac Lomax in the ring. And, of course, it was No Limit Boxing who made that statement. There was also an article where the Eels won't block Lomax's demand for him to take up boxing on the side.
So based on everything presented, my theory is that Lomax made a request to the Dragons in order for him for do boxing on the side. Now, given that he's one of the highest paid players in the Dragons, as well as one of the highest paid centres in the game, the Dragons denied his request. That, along with his conversation with Flanagan about his lackluster performance for a man of his level of pay, likely pissed off Lomax.
Lomax has then been told by Merrin and Marketo, through their Azure Partners company, that if he were to do boxing on the side, he could easily make up the amount of money that he'd lose from the Dragons. So Lomax requests the release and the Dragons oblige. Lomax meets with Brad Arthur, discusses his plans to do boxing on the side, takes a ***massive*** pay cut and then signs with them.
Which is hilarious because if that agreement for boxing isn't sealed in ink, Jason Ryles, the new Parra coach, can flat out deny Lomax's request to do it. Which means Lomax would've not only gone to a club who's arguably in a worse spot than the Dragons, but also lost $375K over 2 years ($150K and $225K more for the last 2 years than his $650K deal).
Now I firmly believe that Lomax has this boxing dream of his, set in stone. So he won't backflip, despite how stupid this new deal is, but I think it's something that should be looked into. It feels predatory, especially given Lomax's personal relationship with Merrin and Marketo who I feel are taking advantage of Lomax.
But that's just a theory.
EDIT: I had links to articles and posts, but it kept giving errors when trying to post
