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Zac Lomax

Johnny88

Johnny88

Juniors
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www.dailytelegraph.com.au




Melbourne Storm fail in latest bid to sign former Parramatta Eels star Zac Lomax
Storm have failed in their latest bid to sign Zac Lomax, with secret talks between Melbourne and Parramatta breaking down, as Harry Grant throws his support behind the former Eels star.
Brent Read
and
Michael Carayannis
5 min read
February 10, 2026 - 5:25PM
News Sport Network

We break down the Zac Lomax court bombshell, the "Secret Deal" with the Storm, and the Origin in NZ shock.
Melbourne chair Matt Tripp has failed with a fresh bid to secure Zac Lomax’s release from Parramatta. This masthead can reveal that Tripp held secret talks with Eels chair Matthew Beach on Tuesday but the parties were unable to strike a deal which would have allowed Lomax to start the season with the Storm.
It is understood the Storm’s latest offer was a significant upgrade on their previous deals – Melbourne originally tabled a $200,000 compensation package to Parramatta that was subsequently increased to $300,000.
The latest offer was another increase again but still wasn’t enough to satisfy the Eels, who launched Supreme Court action against Lomax when it looked like the NRL might intervene to enable him to return to the NRL with the Storm.

Melbourne have failed in their latest bid to sign former Parramatta Eels star Zac Lomax. Picture: NRL Images
The Eels’ courtroom showdown against Lomax is scheduled to begin on March 2, the same week that Parramatta and Melbourne are due to meet in the opening round of the premiership.
Melbourne had hoped to have Lomax available for the start of the season at AAMI Park but those hopes are fading fast as Parramatta dig in their heels over the future of their former star.
Lomax was one year into a long-term deal with Parramatta when he requested a release so he could join rebel rugby union competition R360.
The Eels gave Lomax what he wanted but they included strict provisions in his release around a potential return to the NRL, giving the club the power to dictate his future in rugby league.
When R360 was postponed until 2028, Tripp led the charge to lure Lomax to Melbourne. Tripp and the Storm remain committed to Lomax – they have spoken about covering his legal fees – but are unlikely to return with another compensation offer given their latest rebuff.
The NRL has been keeping a close eye on the situation.

Melbourne Storm chair Matt Tripp has been locked in discussions with his Eels counterpart.

But talks with Eels chair Matthew Beach have broken down. Picture: Supplied
“Zac has been a great player for many years and clearly publicised in terms of the journey he has been on,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“For me, I want the best athletes in the world playing in the NRL and NRLW competition, full stop. That all has to happen within our rules and clearly there are discussions happening now between Zac and the Eels that are the subject matter of a court case.
“As a blanket statement, as CEO of the game, I want the best athletes wanting to come and play our sport.”
Asked whether the NRL would review their contract system given the latest spat involving Lomax, Abdo said that would be a matter for the ARL Commission.
“It’s a delicate balance that is required,” Abdo said.
“Both the clubs and players will agree to certain terms in the contract that to give both or either the club or the player protection based on the circumstances. That is not uncommon in professional sport.
“It’s also not a one-sided thing. It’s not like these contracts are always only in favour of the player or the club. A decision to change the current contracting rules would be carefully considered by the commission in consultation with the key stakeholders including the RLPA and clubs.”
“Like anything in the sport, whether it’s on field or off field, we are always looking at the way we do things and how we can improve. If there is a better way of doing things we will look at it.
“But as I said, it’s the job of the Commission to consider policy decisions of this nature. This is an unusual case, given it’s related to the emergence of a new potential unsanctioned competition.”
 
the phantom menace

the phantom menace

Coach
Messages
15,906
Abdo's final quote...
Johnny88 said:
“But as I said, it’s the job of the Commission to consider policy decisions of this nature. This is an unusual case, given it’s related to the emergence of a new potential unsanctioned competition.”
Click to expand...
It's not an unusual case - if you agree to a conditional release from a contract, then you (Zac) can't go and contravene the agreed conditions of release.

See Gordon Tallis, Sonny Bill Williams, and Jamie Lyon well before you, Zac.
 
eels_fan

eels_fan

First Grade
Messages
8,698
Inside the last-ditch meeting between Eels and Storm to broker deal for Zac Lomax


Melbourne and Parramatta remain in a stand-off over Zac Lomax despite a meeting between the respective club chairs on Tuesday, where a deal for Ryan Matterson to join the Storm and an improved financial offer from the Melbourne club were put on the table.

Lomax has been locked in a dispute with the Eels over his future after they agreed to release him from his contract last year to pursue an opportunity with rugby union start-up R360. With the breakaway competition now on hold until the end of 2028, Lomax hopes to resume his league career by linking with the Storm, but Parramatta have refused to budge on a clause preventing him from joining another NRL club without their permission.

Storm chairman Matt Tripp and Eels counterpart Matthew Beach met in Sydney in a bid to thrash out a deal. However, it appears there won’t be a resolution outside of court after the parties were unable to come to terms.

The Eels had previously rejected Melbourne’s offers of $200,000 and $300,000 as compensation because the money didn’t improve their salary cap position.
The Storm tabled a counter-proposal that included increasing their transfer offer and also providing the Eels with cap space through a potential player transfer.

Sources not authorised to speak publicly told this masthead that Parramatta were keen to revisit the possibility of offloading Matterson to the Storm.


This masthead has previously revealed Parramatta’s desire to get Matterson off the books, but, while the issue was revisited on Tuesday, the parties couldn’t reach an agreement.

The Storm are adamant that was their final offer, meaning both parties – unless one backs down – are headed to a Supreme Court showdown in the first week of March. That almost certainly means there won’t be an outcome before the season kicks off, thwarting Lomax’s bid to debut for the Storm against his former club in round one.


While Craig Bellamy’s side are eager to have Lomax on board, Parramatta have put their former teammate behind them.
“He made his decision after the season that he wasn’t going to be with us, so we’ve just moved on, I guess,” captain Mitchell Moses said.
“Definitely as a playing group we’ve moved on and we haven’t thought about it. He hasn’t done one training session with us, so we’ve moved on. It just gives another one of these other boys an opportunity to come in, take a jersey, and come into what we’re trying to do.”
Moses said he was glad the club was standing up for itself on the issue.
“I’ll back the club in whatever they do, whatever decision they make,” he said. “They’ve got our full support as a playing group, whatever they do, we’ll back them. It’s out of our control.”

www.smh.com.au

Inside the last-ditch meeting between Eels and Storm to broker deal for Zac Lomax

Parramatta and Melbourne officials have broken bread in Sydney in a bid to end the impasse over the winger and save both parties another court date.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
 
85 Baby

85 Baby

Juniors
Messages
2,474
TheParraboy said:
Worrying thing if it keeps getting delayed and then courts rule in favour of Lomax

Then I can see Lomax/lawyers taking Parra for compo
Click to expand...
It’s not impossible that they would, but more likely court would limit it to the period up to the date court action was initiated.

Either way there is still so much to be resolved before that’s even a consideration
 
85 Baby

85 Baby

Juniors
Messages
2,474
Johnny88 said:

Loading…

www.dailytelegraph.com.au




Melbourne Storm fail in latest bid to sign former Parramatta Eels star Zac Lomax
Storm have failed in their latest bid to sign Zac Lomax, with secret talks between Melbourne and Parramatta breaking down, as Harry Grant throws his support behind the former Eels star.
Brent Read
and
Michael Carayannis
5 min read
February 10, 2026 - 5:25PM
News Sport Network

We break down the Zac Lomax court bombshell, the "Secret Deal" with the Storm, and the Origin in NZ shock.
Melbourne chair Matt Tripp has failed with a fresh bid to secure Zac Lomax’s release from Parramatta. This masthead can reveal that Tripp held secret talks with Eels chair Matthew Beach on Tuesday but the parties were unable to strike a deal which would have allowed Lomax to start the season with the Storm.
It is understood the Storm’s latest offer was a significant upgrade on their previous deals – Melbourne originally tabled a $200,000 compensation package to Parramatta that was subsequently increased to $300,000.
The latest offer was another increase again but still wasn’t enough to satisfy the Eels, who launched Supreme Court action against Lomax when it looked like the NRL might intervene to enable him to return to the NRL with the Storm.

Melbourne have failed in their latest bid to sign former Parramatta Eels star Zac Lomax. Picture: NRL Images
The Eels’ courtroom showdown against Lomax is scheduled to begin on March 2, the same week that Parramatta and Melbourne are due to meet in the opening round of the premiership.
Melbourne had hoped to have Lomax available for the start of the season at AAMI Park but those hopes are fading fast as Parramatta dig in their heels over the future of their former star.
Lomax was one year into a long-term deal with Parramatta when he requested a release so he could join rebel rugby union competition R360.
The Eels gave Lomax what he wanted but they included strict provisions in his release around a potential return to the NRL, giving the club the power to dictate his future in rugby league.
When R360 was postponed until 2028, Tripp led the charge to lure Lomax to Melbourne. Tripp and the Storm remain committed to Lomax – they have spoken about covering his legal fees – but are unlikely to return with another compensation offer given their latest rebuff.
The NRL has been keeping a close eye on the situation.

Melbourne Storm chair Matt Tripp has been locked in discussions with his Eels counterpart.

But talks with Eels chair Matthew Beach have broken down. Picture: Supplied
“Zac has been a great player for many years and clearly publicised in terms of the journey he has been on,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“For me, I want the best athletes in the world playing in the NRL and NRLW competition, full stop. That all has to happen within our rules and clearly there are discussions happening now between Zac and the Eels that are the subject matter of a court case.
“As a blanket statement, as CEO of the game, I want the best athletes wanting to come and play our sport.”
Asked whether the NRL would review their contract system given the latest spat involving Lomax, Abdo said that would be a matter for the ARL Commission.
“It’s a delicate balance that is required,” Abdo said.
“Both the clubs and players will agree to certain terms in the contract that to give both or either the club or the player protection based on the circumstances. That is not uncommon in professional sport.
“It’s also not a one-sided thing. It’s not like these contracts are always only in favour of the player or the club. A decision to change the current contracting rules would be carefully considered by the commission in consultation with the key stakeholders including the RLPA and clubs.”
“Like anything in the sport, whether it’s on field or off field, we are always looking at the way we do things and how we can improve. If there is a better way of doing things we will look at it.
“But as I said, it’s the job of the Commission to consider policy decisions of this nature. This is an unusual case, given it’s related to the emergence of a new potential unsanctioned competition.”
Click to expand...
I wonder if centralised contracting is a possibility. Certainly comes with whole set of new problems though
 
the phantom menace

the phantom menace

Coach
Messages
15,906
Angry_eel said:
I assume he'll just go to England for a year. This is disastrous for him as a player. Ideally, he should have been training with a team. When we denied him permission last year, he should have made calls to England at that time.
Click to expand...
Do we know that he isn't training with a team at the moment? I suspect that he is, somewhere south of our state border...

Agree the likely answer for Zac which complies with the conditions of release from his Eels/NRL contract is to play rugby league in Europe, or rugby union anywhere. We are within our rights to refuse to agree his NRL participation with an opposing club that doesn't reasonably compensate us for the loss of a contracted Origin and (selected National) level player.

Problem for Zac is that he likely doesn't want to entertain the drop in (potential/expected) income, that would come with not being able to play for an NRL that can afford him under the cap but low-balls us for the value of the lost contract/release.
 
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