Parramatta had earlier commenced legal proceedings to prevent Lomax from joining the Storm, given his release from a four-year contract was contingent on the Eels providing written consent. The NSW winger was granted a release to join rebel rugby competition R360, but has been left in limbo after its inaugural season was put back until 2028.
The Eels felt they had no option but to commence legal proceedings after Melbourne attempted to sign Lomax without recognising the terms of his release. The parties eventually got to the negotiating table, but couldn’t get a deal done before the matter was poised to be heard in court.
In limbo: Zac Lomax.Credit: Getty Images
“The Storm … were open with us, they’ve had a lot of changes to their club and they needed a player,” said Parramatta chair Matthew Beach. “As we said to the Storm, ‘Congratulations, you got to the front of the queue.’ Nothing against that.
“It would have been better to know it earlier on, rather than sort of the deal looked like they were pretty pregnant with it by the time we got approached, which made it harder.”
The Eels remain open to doing a deal with the Storm or any other club if they can get an adequate replacement for Lomax.
“This was all about fighting what we felt was right, irrespective of what the other counterparties were looking for,” Sarantinos said.
Rugby Australia are still keeping the door open to Lomax, with informed sources reporting that the Western Force remain interested in signing him, having previously offered the winger a $250,000 a year deal.
Lomax last played rugby at primary school in Temora and would face a steep learning curve, with the Force already three rounds into the Super Rugby season.
Lomax’s financial returns in rugby would grow if he were to earn Wallabies selection. A move to play in Japan or France may be more lucrative in the short term, but Lomax’s lack of recent rugby experience might remain a stumbling block.
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The cessation of the case is unlikely to take the sting out of the opening-round clash between Parramatta and Melbourne on Thursday.
“It’s a bit of rugby league poetry, isn’t it?” Sarantinos said, saying a win in Melbourne would be “a nice way to wrap this whole thing up”.
Storm chairman Matt Tripp said in a statement he accepted Parramatta’s position and the conclusion of the matter.
“We are disappointed for Zac and for the game of rugby league. Zac is a star player and quality person who will now remain on the sidelines until 2028,” Tripp said.
“We hope to see Zac return to the NRL in the coming years and haven’t ruled out the prospect of Zac playing for the Melbourne Storm in the future.
“The way Zac has handled himself through this elongated process has been incredible and we wish him every success in whatever he decides to do in the coming years.”
