Zac Lomax has sensationally settled his legal fight with Parramatta and agreed to not return to the NRL without the Eels’ consent before the 2028 season.
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In a sensational twist in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Eels barrister Arthur Moses told the court that the Eels and Lomax had settled the at-times bitter legal fight.
Under the agreement, Lomax is still bound by the terms of his release that he cannot sign with another club without the Eels’ consent.
The Eels have agreed to shave one year off that agreement – meaning he can return to the NRL without their consent for the 2028 season.
It also effectively means that Lomax’s hopes of joining the Melbourne Storm are dead.
As part of the deal, the Storm must pay Lomax’s legal fees as well as $250,000 to the Eels for their legal costs.
Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos said he wished Lomax well and the proceedings were never about restraining the NSW and Kangaroos winger from playing again.
Rather, he said it was about enforcing the terms of Lomax’s release, which he had agreed to.
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“This was never about Zac not playing in the NRL, this was always about doing it in the right way,” he said outside court on Monday.
“And we were completely open to working with Zac and his agent whereby if we were to find a home and that results in the right football outcome for us, we won’t stand in the way of that deal.
“But I think we’ve demonstrated through this process we’re not going to be steamrolled.”
The settlement came just as a highly anticipated hearing in the Supreme Court was set to get under way.
It also sets up a blockbuster round 1 clash between the Eels and Storm at AAMI Park on Thursday when both sides open their season.
“It’s a bit of rugby league poetry isn’t it that we’re playing the Storm on Thursday,” Mr Sarantinos said.
“Hopefully, we can get a win at AAMI Park as well and that will be a nice way to wrap this whole thing up.”
The Eels released a statement on Tuesday claiming “at no time did the Storm make an offer that could be implemented that would provide appropriate value for our football program”.
Lomax has been locked in a legal battle with the Eels after Parramatta demanded compensation in exchange for allowing him to sign with last year’s losing grand finalists.
The two sides were set to square off during a hearing in the NSW Supreme Court this week and the court was told on Monday that Parramatta and the Storm were in negotiations and “very close” to a resolution.
The court was told on Tuesday morning the two sides had come to an agreement.
As part of the settlement, the Storm must also pay $250,000 in the Eels’ legal costs.
The Eels said on Tuesday that they would be willing to work with Lomax and his agent to find an NRL club that wants to sign him, provided they receive “appropriate value for its football program”.
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The Eels sued their former star after he was last year released from his $700,000-a-year contract after he told them he wanted to chase an opportunity in R360, only for the global breakaway rugby union competition to fail at the launching pad.
Parramatta agreed to release the Australian and NSW representative, despite only being one year into a four-year deal.
Parramatta included a clause in his release that he was not able to play for another NRL club for the length of his contract period – until November 2028 – without their written consent.
After Lomax was left in contract limbo, he in December began negotiations to join Craig Bellamy’s team.
But talks between Melbourne and Parramatta broke down as both sides knocked back offers from the other.
Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp in January refused to entertain a player swap proposed by the Eels, while Parramatta declined offers for $100,000 and $200,000 transfer fees.
According to court documents, the Storm earlier this year made a $300,000 offer, in the form of $211,000 in salary cap relief and an $89,000 transfer fee.
However, negotiations failed and Lomax and the Eels prepared to square off in the Supreme Court.
The court was told on Monday that the two parties were “very close” to coming to an agreement.
It’s understood that at 10.30am on Monday, the Eels had resolved that any potential deal with the Storm was dead.
And they only agreed to a settlement at 9.10am on Tuesday – 50 minutes before they entered the courtroom.
FULL STATEMENT FROM EELS
The Parramatta Eels today provide the following update regarding Zac Lomax and proceedings involving the Melbourne Storm.
In November 2025 as part of Zac Lomax’s release from the remaining three years of his contract with the Parramatta Eels, Zac agreed that he would not play with another NRL team prior to 31 October 2028 without the written consent of the Eels.
Over the past two months the Eels and the Melbourne Storm have worked towards reaching an agreement to enable Zac to play with the Storm. At no time did the Storm make an offer that could be implemented that would provide appropriate value for our football program.
The Eels and the Storm have been unable to reach an agreement for the Eels to provide consent for Zac to play with the Storm.
Today, the Supreme Court by consent made an order which has the effect of prohibiting Zac from entering into a contract, working, training or playing with any other NRL Club until 31 October 2027 without the Eels written consent.
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The court order is consistent with the restraint in the Deed of Release that Zac signed with the Eels on 16 November 2025, other than the Eels have agreed that the term of the restraint will now cease on 31 October 2027 rather than 31 October 2028. All other terms of the deed of release remain in place.
The Melbourne Storm have consented to a costs order made by the Supreme Court that the Melbourne Storm will contribute $250,000 towards the legal costs incurred by the Parramatta Eels.
The Eels are willing to work with Zac and his agent to find an NRL club that wants to sign Zac in exchange for the Eels receiving appropriate value for its football program.
Parramatta Eels Chairman Matthew Beach said, “The legal case was never about preventing Zac from returning to the NRL. It was about ensuring that the terms of Zac’s release, which Zac agreed to after seeking legal advice, were adhered to. As I have said before, contracts are an important part of the NRL as they are for every member of the community.
“The consent order made by the Court order confirms that the restraint that Zac agreed to when he signed the Deed of Release will have legal effect. A key term of the restraint was the requirement to obtain the written consent of the Eels before Zac could sign with another NRL club.
“We would like to thank our legal team led by Arthur Moses SC, Liam Meahger and the team at Workplace Law for their guidance and advice throughout this process.
“We were always willing to consider a deal that would strengthen our football program. After trying for over two months, we were unable to reach an agreement with the Storm.
“We believe that Zac is a good young man and we are willing to work with him and his agent, in an open and transparent manner, to explore ways that we can reach an agreement where Zac can return to the NRL.
“While this period has presented some unique challenges, we felt strongly about standing up for what we believed to be right, and we appreciate the passion, unity and alignment we have seen from our members, fans, sponsors and everyone within the Club,” added Mr Beach.
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