A legal battle is escalating over the future of NRL star Zac Lomax, with prominent rugby league journalists publicly disagreeing on whether he should be reinstated to the competition. The dispute centers on Lomax’s release from the Parramatta Eels and a subsequent, failed attempt by the Melbourne Storm to sign him, a move that has drawn scrutiny from the NRL.
The saga took a new turn as legal proceedings are set to begin in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, February 28th, with the NRL subpoenaed to provide evidence. Storm Chairman Matt Tripp and CEO Justin Rodski are scheduled to testify, according to reporting from Fox Sports Australia.
Andrew Webster, a journalist with Fox Sports, argued strongly against Lomax’s return to the NRL, stating that the league has no obligation to accommodate him given the circumstances of his departure from the Eels. “The game doesn’t need Zac Lomax,” Webster said. “The guy wanted out for money and he left on certain conditions and now wants [in since] it’s all fallen over. That’s not the game’s responsibility to save Zac Lomax.” Webster as well suggested the NRL may have been complicit in attempting to facilitate Lomax’s move to Melbourne, stating, “We’re going to find out sooner than later just how complicit the NRL was in getting a player to go to Melbourne.”
The Eels released Lomax from his contract to allow him to “pursue interests outside of the NRL,” but Parramatta has aggressively pursued legal action, subpoenaing both the NRL and the Storm. Gorden Tallis, also speaking on NRL 360, indicated he would be more accepting of Lomax’s departure if it were to another code, like rugby, but viewed a move to a rival NRL club, specifically Melbourne, as problematic.
However, journalist Brent Read offered a contrasting perspective, arguing that Parramatta should be financially compensated but questioning their surprise at Lomax’s attempts to find another club. “Why are they shocked by this?” Read asked. He also pointed out the limited interest in signing Lomax, stating, “There’s not many that have reached out to Zac Lomax to sign him … given his history.” Read expressed his desire to see Lomax back in the NRL, specifically with the Melbourne Storm.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have publicly stated their preference for Lomax’s return to the game, despite the ongoing legal issues. This position has been questioned in light of the legal proceedings and allegations of potential NRL involvement in the attempted transfer to Melbourne, as reported by The Australian.
The controversy was further fueled by the emergence of leaked text messages between a Melbourne Storm executive and an NRL official, as reported by News.com.au, raising questions about the Storm’s pursuit of Lomax and the NRL’s role in the process. The details of these messages are expected to be central to the upcoming court proceedings.
Braith Anasta, host of NRL 360, concluded the discussion by emphasizing the need for accountability within the league, stating, “There needs to be some sort of punishment. Our games needs to have balls. We need to stand by the decisions that we make.”
The NSW Supreme Court hearing is scheduled to proceed on Monday, February 28th, with the outcome potentially determining Lomax’s future in the NRL and shedding light on the extent of the NRL’s involvement in the complex transfer saga.
