Ex-Eels star Zac Lomax is reportedly weighing up two year offers from the Western Force and the Brumbies amid previous links to the Perth Bears and French and Japanese Rugby.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Lomax will need to decide between the Force and the Brumbies by the end of the year if he wants to get a top up from Rugby Australia on his contract.
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RA has been approached by the Super Rugby franchises to provide a top up of Lomax’s deals, which is a key factor in whether he commits to Australian rugby.
Lomax is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to try and win a spot on the Wallabies team for a home World Cup in 2027.
French and Japanese rugby clubs are also vying for Lomax’s signature, while the Perth Bears have previously expressed interest in his services if he returns to league.
The money on offer in French and Japanese rugby would dwarf the Rugby Australia offer and RA are reportedly cautious of the size of the investment as they don’t want to lose Max Jorgensen, who comes off-contract in 2026.
Super Rugby franchises can offer a maximum contract of $220,000 a year, with RA making “top-up” payments to a group of approximately 30 players they have earmarked for Wallabies selection.
The national contracting panel including CEO Phil Waugh, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and RA high-performance director Peter Horne, makes decisions on which players receive the top-up deals.
Without a top-up, Lomax could earn up to $400,000 a year if he played all 15 Tests in 2026 for the Wallabies.
But top-up players receive match fees of $10,000 a Test, while those not centrally contracted get $12,000.
If he can’t secure a top up deal, Lomax would potentially earn $300,000 less than his $700,000 a season deal at the Eels.
BEARS RAMP UP PURSUIT OF SHARKS GUN
The Perth Bears have reportedly ramped up their pursuit of Sharks star Jesse Colquhoun, who has been linked with six clubs and is one of the prized signatures on the open market.
Colquhoun had a breakout year for the Sharks in 2025, playing 18 games and starting at lock following the season ending injury to skipper Cameron McInnes.
The Daily Telegraph reported Colquhoun has had “advanced talks” with the Perth Bears about moving to the expansion club when his contract expires in 2026.
The 24-year-old has played 29 games for the Sharks since his debut in 2022 and would have played a lot more were it not for repeated knee injuries early in his career.
Colquhoun is a highly regarded and versatile forward, who can cover the back row and prop at a pinch and has been mentioned as a potential NSW bolter in 2026.
The Bears are keen to land Colquhoun to build their pack around the impressive lock forward.
The Sharks are keen to keep Colquhoun, but have salary cap issues that prevent them from matching the money on offer from the Bears.
Cronulla also have Sam Stonestreet, Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien, Billy Burns, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Cameron McInnes, Jesse Ramien, Siosifa Talakai, Toby Rudolf and William Kennedy all coming off-contract in 2026 and they can’t keep them all.
In all the Sharks have 16 players coming off-contract in 2026 and face a huge task to re-sign some of their star players for 2027 and beyond.
Colquhoun’s injury history could also influence him to make the switch to the Bears in order to capitalise on his growing reputations after a series of setbacks early in his career.
The Bears have already signed Harry Newman, Toby Sexton, Liam Henry, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Luke Smith and Emarly Bitungane.
They have also been linked with Eels flyer Sean Russell and Bulldogs enforcer Josh Curran.
Colquhoun reflected on his return from injury setbacks earlier this season.
“To go from missing the start of the year with an ACL and then to work my way back in, it’s pretty surreal,” Colquhoun told Zero Tackle in September.
“It’s always tough. You always have those personal battles behind closed doors, but we are such a strong club here and have such strong connections, which makes it easy to get through, especially those tough times.
“Everyone’s here to pick you up and keep you going.
“I’m sure with a lot of the boys, they wouldn’t be here without their family, and I’m the exact same. They drive me to training, pick me up when I can’t drive and do everything for me.”
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BEARS CLOSE IN ON BULLDOGS ENFORCER AND EELS FLYER
The Perth Bears are reportedly closing in on Bulldogs forward Josh Curran after landing Eels flyer Sean Russell in a pre-Christmas signing spree.
The Daily Telegraph reported the Bears are set to sign Russell and Curran as they continue their signing spree to form their inaugural squad in 2027.
Russell has reportedly agreed to a long-term deal with the Bears that will see him leave the Eels after the 2026 season.
And Curran, who has been on the outer at the Bulldogs is reportedly set to follow him West after the 2026 campaign at Belmore.
Russell, 23, has scored 24 tries in 61 games for the Eels since his debut in 2021 and can cover both wing and centre.
Curran, 26, has scored 19 tries in 106 games for the Roosters, Warriors and Bulldogs since his debut in 2019 and is also versatile in covering every position in the forward pack bar hooker.
The Bears aimed to have 10 signings before Christmas and with six confirmed and Russell and Curran to follow they could make good on their promise.
The Eels were keen to keep Russell, but were trumped by the money on offer from the expansion franchise and the extra security of a four year deal.
Curran would be the first Bears player with over 100 games of NRL experience and can cover the front row and back row.
Toby Sexton, Harry Newman, Liam Henry, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Luke Smith and Emarly Bitungane are all already on the books at the Bears for 2027.
Meanwhile the Bears have held talks with Storm pair Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart, who could make the magic number 10 if they sign before Christmas.
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