Secret meeting that sparked shock Eels walkout as bombshell Lomax ban loophole question emerges

Zac Lomax’s stint at Parramatta has come to a premature end, with the Eels winger granted an immediate release to “pursue opportunities outside the NRL” — again posing questions around loopholes as the game threatens decade-long bans.

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The Eels confirmed Lomax’s release in a statement on Sunday afternoon, wishing the NSW Blues representative the best for the future.

Lomax had been linked with a move to the rebel rugby comp R360, and his exit from the Eels will only add to that speculation.

The NRL have threatened players who break their contract to join R360 with 10-year bans.

Former Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen and now Lomax are two players who have been granted early releases in recent weeks with both expected to link up with the rebel rugby union competition.

Given the duo were released from their contracts before any R360 deal has been announced, former prop forward Aaron Woods has questioned whether Lomax and Papenhuyzen have found a loophole around a potential 10-year NRL ban.

“Does he cop the 10-year suspension? It’s very similar to Papenhuyzen though because Paps got the release. Now they don’t have a contract with the NRL,” Woods said on Triple M.

“It was under the information that they were only going to get a 10-year ban if they were still contracted.”

According to Code Sports, the terms of the release dictate that Lomax will be unable to play for another NRL club until 2029 unless the Eels give him permission to do so.

Of course, if he ends up joining R360 that won’t matter anyway given the NRL has threatened to ban any defecting players for 10 years.

In another stunning reveal, Code Sports reported Lomax sought out Roger Tuivasa-Sheck after a Warriors-Eels clash in Round 26 regarding a potential code switch.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been heavily linked to a switch to R360.

While Lomax signalled to the Eels a potential desire to head to R360 several months ago, the club reportedly caught wind of Lomax’s chat with the veteran outside back.

While a big blow to Parramatta’s chances of pushing for a top-eight berth in 2026, Lomax’s release frees up nearly $650,000 while the 26-year-old is expected to earn at least double that should he link up with R360. The Australian has reported that R360 is offering NRL and Australian rugby union players tax free deals worth more than US$1million (A$1.5 million) per season.

The Eels have already landed gun playmaker Jonah Pezet for next year and could continue to look to the open market for another marquee player, especially given Pezet will be departing the club in 2027 for the Brisbane Broncos.

News Corp are reporting Nelson Asofa-Solomona could be one man to land in Parramatta, while out-of-favour forward Ryan Matterson remains contracted for the 2026 season.

He was allowed to leave on loan last season, and it remains to be seen if he will remain at the club for next year.

Lomax lasted just one season in Parramatta after signing a four-year deal with the club, having left the Dragons at the end of 2024 while forgoing the final two years of his $800,000 deal at the Red V in the process.

R360 officials also reportedly have a desire for players they have signed to officially announce their moves in the coming weeks.

Lomax said in November last year that leaving the Dragons was “the best decision” he “could have made”.

“I needed a different way in my footy career, and I feel for me it was the best decision I could have made. I’m super looking forward to it,” Lomax said at the time.

“I just wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I’d been there for a long time, but ultimately I wanted to win.

“I don’t feel where that team (Eels) finished this year is how they’re going to go next year. I feel that with the team and the club at Parra, we’re going to have a really successful year.”

That didn’t end up happening, with an injury-interrupted season for halfback Mitchell Moses spoiling any chance the Eels had of qualifying for the finals but Parramatta finished strong and seemed to be building towards a promising 2026 campaign.

Lomax, however, won’t be around for it.

The news of Lomax’s immediate exit comes after Parramatta locked in Josh Addo-Carr, the club’s other starting winger, on a one-year extension which will keep him in blue and gold until the end of 2027.

As for who could take Lomax’s vacant spot on the other wing, Bailey Simonsson — who had been on the outer last season after Lomax’s arrival — looks the likely candidate to step in.