The Storm’s pursuit of Zac Lomax could come with an extra salary cap headache after they allegedly made a promise to the gun winger ahead of his legal battle.
The Eels started legal proceedings against their former star winger, with the club pushing to enforce the terms of his release from his NRL contract, which had four years left to run.
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Following the end of the 2025 season, Parramatta bosses allowed Lomax to walk to take up a contract with R360, which was delayed as he began negotiations with the Storm.
However, included in his release was a clause that he was unable to sign with a rival NRL club until the end of 2028, unless the Eels gave their consent.
Storm and Eels bosses were previously negotiating a deal for the gun winger to land in Melbourne, which fell flat, a now their pursuit could have further cap ramifications.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Parramatta are claiming the Storm promised to cover Lomax’s legal expenses — with several NRL clubs watching on as a potential salary cap headache looms.
“On or around 13 January 2026, or alternatively a time thereafter, the Melbourne Storm agreed to pay the legal costs of Mr Lomax to defend proceedings commenced by the Parramatta Eels against Mr Lomax to enforce the Deed of Release,” the Eels’ court documents read.
The cost of Lomax’s legal bill is reportedly expected to his six figures, with the potential to sit around $250,000.
Should Lomax win the court case, the Eels are unlikely to be ordered to foot his full legal costs — leaving a portion left over to be paid by the Storm.
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The NRL will then have to make a decision as to whether those funds gave Melbourne an advantage in their bid to sign Lomax, and therefore come under their cap.
The Storm reportedly do not have any cap space left should their Lomax deal be approved, meaning they could have a roster debacle on their hands.
Overall, the court will have to decide whether the Eels have been unlawful in their restraint of allowing Lomax to sign elsewhere, and whether he entered into a binding release agreement.
The Storm, according to documents tendered to the court, also claimed the following: “The Parramatta Eels knew at all times that there was a prospect that from the date of entry into the Deed of Release and prior to 31 October 2028 there [was the prospect of Lomax] seeking to return as a player to the Parramatta Eels or another club within the NRL.”
The Eels, however, claimed there was “an expectation that Mr Lomax would consult and negotiate in good faith and consider all potential options available to him to play in the NRL.”
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