Lomax Saga Nears Conclusion with Last-Minute Twist Unveiled

Morgan Winslow

Published: March 1, 2026 9:21 PM ET

The ongoing legal battle between the Parramatta Eels and Zac Lomax has reached a pivotal moment as negotiations with the Melbourne Storm are still underway. The legal proceedings, underway at the NSW Supreme Court, have been temporarily delayed following discussions between the two clubs.

Lomax Saga Nears Conclusion with Last-Minute Twist Unveiled

On Monday, both Parramatta and Lomax’s legal representatives arrived at the Supreme Court, prepared for a seven-day hearing. The Eels are seeking to enforce Lomax’s contractual release terms, which they claim prohibits him from joining the Storm without their consent. The winger currently has a substantial contract valued at $700,000 per year.

Current Status of Legal Proceedings

The court hearing was initially scheduled to start early in the day.
Judge Francois Kunc encouraged both sides to resolve their differences amicably.
Negotiations extended the timeline, pushing court proceedings from 11:30 AM to 2 PM.

Lomax’s barrister, Adam Casselden SC, informed the court about the ongoing negotiations. This development has raised the possibility of Lomax being eligible to play against the Eels in the upcoming season opener on Thursday night, despite initial expectations he might not participate due to the legal dispute.

Details from the Court Documents

The court documents reveal intense negotiations between the Storm and the Eels. On January 2, Melbourne’s chairman, Matt Tripp, rejected a proposed player swap. Instead, he suggested a transfer fee which began at $100,000 but escalated to $200,000 the following day. Eventually, an offer of $300,000 was made, splitting into salary cap relief and a transfer fee.

Implications of Lomax’s Release

Parramatta granted Lomax a release from his four-year deal after his attempt to sign with a now-defunct rugby union competition failed. However, the terms stipulated that he could not join another NRL team until the end of his contract in October 2028 without the Eels’ consent.

Lomax’s legal team argues that the Eels are unreasonably withholding that consent.
They believe there’s an implied expectation in the contract for the Eels not to obstruct his transition to another club.
The Eels counter-argue that they have been transparent in the negotiation process.

Pressure from the Storm

According to the documents, on January 21, Storm’s CEO Justin Rodski reached out to NRL CEO Andrew Ando, asking for support to expedite the resolution with the Eels. This message was perceived by the Eels as an attempt to pressure them into accepting the Storm’s conditions.

The ongoing negotiations and court hearings will determine Zac Lomax’s immediate future in the NRL. Both clubs are eager to finalize terms that could allow him to compete as early as the upcoming match.