Melbourne Storm have come under heavy fire from rival clubs over their pursuit of Zac Lomax.
One club boss even declared at Wednesday’s chief executives’ conference that Lomax’s decision to quit Parramatta was no different to when Sonny Bill Williams walked out on the Bulldogs.
It came to a head when Storm chief executive Justin Rodski faced significant backlash as he tried to make a case why Lomax should be allowed to join his third club in as many years.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
The only place to stream every match of the 2025/26 KFC BBL LIVE is on FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo Sports. | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
I’m told rival club bosses in attendance were unanimous that the NRL must back the Eels and not allow Lomax to join the Storm in 2026 unless it is done with Parramatta’s full blessing.
South Sydney’s Blake Solly made a particularly good point when he likened Lomax’s decision to quit Parramatta with three years remaining on his contract to when SBW controversially exited Canterbury in 2008.
Let’s remember Sonny Bill was out of the game for five years before he returned with the Roosters in 2013.
Gorden Tallis was another player who had to sit out a season during the Super League War when he left St George for the Broncos.
But now there are calls to let Lomax back immediately, regardless of if the Eels oppose it, just because the rebel rugby comp R360 fell over.
It absolutely stinks.
No one is saying Lomax should not be allowed to go off and have a crack at rugby either in Australia or overseas if that is his desire.
But if the NRL surrender on this then they may as well rip up every contract and make it a free-for-all for any player (or their agent) who want to wiggle out of an existing deal down the track if the grass looks greener elsewhere.
It would also infuriate fans across the game to see Lomax turn up at a top club like the Storm this year on a reduced salary.
And while Rodski argued during Wednesday’s meeting that the Storm wouldn’t have an issue if another club wanted to sign Ryan Papenhuyzen, the big difference is the Storm didn’t put any conditions in Papenhuyzen’s release.
Parramatta did.
The condition stipulated was that Lomax could not play for another NRL club until 2029 unless the Eels grant him permission to do so.
The mail is the Eels might be willing to release Lomax provided they get the right deal in return.
Jack Howarth’s name has been mentioned as part of a potential swap, while the suggestion is the Eels would also want some money on top of that.
NAS: “Ready to take this guy’s head off” | 00:15
MORE NRL NEWS
EVERY CLUB’S BEST 17: Broncos halves call leaves casualty; Roosters DCE dilemma
‘HIT ME BETWEEN EYES’: Legend reveals mental health battle that forced rehab stint
BEST 25 UNDER 25: Scary Walsh truth laid bare as Galvin reality revealed
Otherwise, it could end up in legal stoush some want to suggest could be a restraint of trade.
This is where the clubs want the NRL to back Parra to the hilt if that eventuates.
What also makes the case against letting Lomax back immediately even stronger was comments from R360 boss Mike Tindall this week.
Tindall was quoted in The Australian saying R360 “didn’t target anyone”.
“NRL players and their agents approached us,” Tindall said.
“We didn’t go after them. We’re a rugby union competition.”
If what Tindall says is true, it suggests this was either masterminded by Lomax _ or his agent _ who approached R360, knowing Lomax still had three years to run on his existing Parramatta deal.
Taking that into account, I can’t believe the game is even considering letting him back in 2026.
Surely Lomax needs to take accountability for his actions, or he should take it up with his agent Clinton Schifcofske.
But the NRL cannot possibly abandon Parramatta and their fans, while giving a rival club as powerful as the Storm a leg-up.
And it wouldn’t matter if it was the Storm, the Tigers or the Broncos.
Surely a contract must stand for something in our game.
The NRL is hoping the Storm and the Eels can come to a resolution and work out a deal that is acceptable for both clubs.
But if that doesn’t happen, Lomax should not be allowed back any time soon.
Even though R360 is on the backburner for now, there is every chance it could remerge following the Rugby World Cup at the end of 2027.
The NRL has talked tough with its threat of 10-year bans.
The time has come to walk the walk.
SHOCK KICK-OFF CALL EMERGES
The controversial change to the kick-off looks set to get the green light.
That was the other big talking point coming out of the NRL chief execs’ hook-up.
Clubs seemed resigned to the fact Peter V’landys will again get his way on this.
While the final decision is yet to be made, the feeling was it’s a fait accompli, so no one even bothered to really argue the point on Wednesday.
The majority of coaches (with the exception of Wayne Bennett) have already made their feelings known they are against the change, which will give the team who is scored against the choice whether to kick off or get the ball back.
While I’m usually one who likes to stick with tradition, I do see merit in Bennett’s idea, because something must be done to help reduce momentum shifts in games.
I saw Matty Johns say this week that coaches need to teach their players to tackle and stop whingeing.
TOP 25 NRL moments in season 2025! | 22:59
But I saw too many games this year where it wasn’t bad defence that let some teams down.
It was dodgy six-again restart calls that left most of us scratching our heads that absolutely swung the momentum.
How often did you find yourself cursing the TV and vowing never to watch the bloody game again when your own team was on the wrong side of a lopsided six-again or penalty count?
One game that springs to mind was early in the season when Manly flogged Canberra on the back of the Raiders only getting 25 per cent of first half possession.
You go back and watch that game and tell me you wouldn’t have wanted to see the Raiders get a chance to receive the ball after some of the things that went on it that game.
It wasn’t the Raiders’ first half defence that was bad that day.
When the six-again restart was first introduced after Covid, I thought it was great because it helped eliminate the wrestle almost overnight.
But it has now got to the point where there are so many questionable calls that can go against teams at any given moment that can turn any game on its head.
I’d still rather the footy we’re watching now than what we had during the years when the wrestle dominated.
But I reckon something has to be done to reduce the impact of the six-again restart.
It’s at least worth seeing how this new rule goes in the trials before we all abandon the idea.
Discussion about this post