2 months ago
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Zac Lomax and Parramatta are heading to court after the player’s latest push to join rivals Melbourne failed.
The Eels granted Lomax an early release from his contract in November when he had hoped to pursue a lucrative deal with rebel rugby competition R360.
In a bind: Former Eels star Zac Lomax (centre) and Parramatta are heading to court.Credit: Getty Images
One of the terms of his release was that he could not play for a rival NRL club, unless he had the Eels’ blessing, before his original contract was due to expire at the end of 2028.
Lomax is desperate to join the Storm, but the Eels will not budge unless they are appropriately compensated.
All parties met again on Tuesday in the hope of finding a resolution.
However, Eels chairman Matthew Beach wrote to members on Thursday, confirming the club was taking Lomax to court.
“I am writing to you directly because you deserve to hear, clearly and honestly, why your club is taking a firm stand in relation to the Zac Lomax matter,” Beach said in a statement.
“Today, the club has commenced legal action against Zac to enforce the terms of the release we agreed with him less than two months ago.
“This is not a step we take lightly, but one we’re prepared to take to protect this club and everyone who stands with it.
“We have endeavoured to resolve this through negotiation, including via a formal independent mediation process with Zac and his legal team.
“Zac’s legal team have informed us in writing that they don’t agree with the terms of the release, and as such we have been left with no alternative but to enforce our rights in the courts.
“In late July-early August 2025, nine months into a four-year deal, Zac Lomax requested a release from his contract with the Parramatta Eels to pursue opportunities outside the NRL, specifically R360.
“After negotiations, in which Zac had legal representation, we agreed to that request in good faith.
“In doing so, we included clear and reasonable conditions to safeguard the club, its members and its football program. One of those conditions was simple and explicit: Zac could not join another NRL club before 31 October 2028 without our written consent.
“That condition existed to ensure the Parramatta Eels would not lose a representative-level player to a rival NRL club without fair value being returned to our football program.
“Zac accepted those terms. The agreement was formally documented and registered with the NRL. When the Melbourne Storm approached us late last year, we engaged respectfully and in good faith.
“However, the offers put forward did not come close to representing fair value for our football program or our long-term interests.
“No Parramatta Eels member, coach or player would expect us to accept an outcome that benefits a direct competitor without a fair exchange for value for your club.
“Prior to commencing the legal proceedings, we offered Zac an opportunity to work with us and his agent to explore Zac playing with one of the other 16 NRL clubs and to come to an arrangement that would result in us receiving a fair exchange of value.
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“Zac declined this offer, and as such we have been left with no alternative but to protect the club’s rights in the courts.”
The Storm were prepared to pay a $200,000 transfer fee, but the Eels wanted what they felt was a like-for-like representative player, such as Jack Howarth, Xavier Coates or Stefano Utoikamanu, in return.
If the matter had dragged on much longer, the NRL was prepared to step in to bring it to a head.
The Eels will be represented by Arthur Moses, while Lomax engaged top lawyer Ramy Qutami.
The Storm and Eels have been contacted for comment.
More to come
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