Sixties declared he wanted as much of a Zac Lomax free zone as possible last week but a potentially shocking twist in the story has blown that wish away. Reports emerged yesterday that the NRL could possibly intervene in proceedings in order to force the Eels to release the contractually exiled star to the Melbourne Storm for amounts as a pittance in compensation. This would be a landmark action from the game’s governing body and opens up the mother of all cans of worms as The Tip Sheet rip in with their thoughts on the impasse.
Believe it or not, there are other things to take about as the boys review another round of Junior Representative trials including a stunning performance by the SG Ball. Sixties brings the latest from training – even with the squad up at Lennox Head – as the Eels continue their build towards the trials. Who is on a hot-seat and who is just dead meat?
The boys review the Daily Telegraph’s coach security ratings ahead of the 2026 season amongst an assortment of NRL sundry news to wrap up the show.
For me it’s a disgrace for the nrl if they side with Lomax an push eels to accept a “fair deal”
Now, all players have to do is “want out” even if it’s a 4 year deal to explore something elsewhere
Then just cry about it and get let back into another club or something
I’m not saying this exact situation happens again – but the NRL has no backbone, as usual the stronger clubs benefits from this situation and the weaker team (eels) in all seriousness only loses out from this situation more than likely
NRL has blocked similar situations before where Izzy Falou wanted to join Parra years ago … when is the NRL going to treat parramatta fairly
I’m also a huge believer Lomax is low on integrity or lacks any heart after him leaving saints early then Parra
My mail from ppl who know St George Illawarra staff is that he had a bad reputation in the club an a ego problem when back then and didn’t take feedback from his coaches
It looks like he brought the same ego of attitude issues over to parramatta and has now caused our club a lot of distractions
I like Lomax as a bad player – but this whole thing has left a really bad taste in my mouth about him
I like Lomax as a player*
But his character seemingly stinks
Leaving for R360 when it had zero substance is absolutely stupid
(Or) he just wanted out and it was an excuse for a release
We obviously didn’t want to release him like it’s being reported ….
Or there would not have been any clauses preventing him from joining rival NRL clubs
Muz the bloke is a rat and an absolute space cadet. Its no wonder he got caught up in this 360 nonsense.
The idea that giving the eels 200k which does nothing for our cap and team whilst letting a grandfinal team casually pick up a rep winger is a ‘fair trade’ is absolutely deplorable. From what it seems other clubs perspectives are it won’t just be the eels who give backlash to the nrl if what they are saying happens.
My source is prominent in the management area.
The Lomax situation is all they are talking about – it’s a huge story.
Don’t shoot the messenger but this is what I’ve been told.
– The NRL have been heavily petitioned by the Storm to allow Lomax to play.
– The Storm board possesses some of the most powerful business leaders in the country, this goes well beyond Lomax.
– Lomax management are very very confident that he will be at the Storm come Round 1.
– PVL has a huge ego ( surprise surprise.. but nothing wrong with that ) but sees himself as a ‘Kingmaker’ He will make decisions that HE believes are in the best interests of the game and everyone can get stuffed.
– He believes that Lomax in the NRL is better for the game than him being outside.
– The NRL is salivating at the prospect of the Eels v Storm match with Lomax playing against the Eels and will advertise the fuck out of it.
Ok all common knowledge I know… But
– There has been an indication that the Storm will apply to register Lomax as a storm player and the NRL WILL accept that registration.
If the Eels have a problem with that, it will be up to the Eels to start something in the courts etc but they have been heavily advised just to take the cash.
The last thing the NRL want is a court case but PVL won’t allow his authority to be challenged.
The only sticking point is that the NRL was very surprised that the other clubs arched up in unison about the issue. The NRL in response is running a counter campaign with friendly jurnos comparing the Lomax deal to the Galvin deal.
Look to see most articles being very sympathetic to the NRL and against the Eels.
As for precident regarding future contracts and the ability to apply this, the word is that the NRL revolves around PVL. He’s just as likely to flip and close the loophole afterwards or just decide on a case by case basis.. he is THAT powerful.
No great news but the NRL is hoping the Eels come to their senses but the issue WILL be forced sooner rather than later.
There was a recent article about Lomax having a vision for greater things as if he was some sort of creative dreamer who needed to break free and find himself. I thought this bloke used to double pump opponents, body slam them once then lift and slam them again to inflict pain, now he’s a free-spirited dreamer looking to perform on cloud 9. So Spark I think you may be on the money about the media tales.
I dont make any comment, I’m only faithfully reporting what I was told.
It was emphasized over and over to me that PVL sees himself as the boss and damn everyone else.
It’s just his personality.
It’s like the kickoff question.
He will consult but that consultation is merely a sideshow.
He is empowered by the ratings and eyes on the game.
He will do what HE thinks is right for the game and will wear any fallout.
I believe he said .. “Let them eat cake ”
I do wonder though about that often used quote … Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Now my comment..
yes.. any suggestion that the media can’t be ‘persuaded’ to report a certain narrative is fanciful.
The Eels will not win a war in the media against the NRL.
I believe the Eels need to remain quiet, professional and forthright with the NRL. If the NRL accepts Lomax registration, which they will. Then the Eels just have to take the legal avenue.
Apparently the Eels board are doing a great job so far.
Our board might not have much footballing nous but they excel in business sense.
It won’t be the pushover PVL hopes it will.
Well lets fuck scum and PVL and tell Lomax he can come back to us for the $350-400 that they are reported to have offered. If he doesn’t perform stick him in Cup or RMC.
Power tends to corrupt etc etc
Take it to court, if the contract meets all the essential elements then Parra are in the dominant position. There are a number of options for those involved. Storm pays a transfer fee reflective of Lonax’s standing as a nrl player and not $200,000. That was the opening bid. The asking price should be $500K.
No deal then Lomax comes back to the Eels. The Storm do not want to swap – take it to court if the contract is solid. PVL cannot undo a signed contract unless all parties agree.
If he goes to the Storm insist he does not play against the Eels.
Parra are holding the top cards – don’t throw in your hand in the face of a bluff.
PVL and the NRL are a joke. Facilitating a player to break a contract to join another club to drive their commercial outcomes shows a disrespect to the integrity of the game.
PVL has been quoted that the NRL is entertainment not sport and this saga confirms that.
Rugby league will always be sport and is built on the integrity of the competition and fans supporting their teams to succeed, not follow a constructed league built by head office to storyline’s that suit their business.
Are you guys still apart of that parramatta supported group Thing with the club ? Why don’t all members of that use their various audiences to attend a protest to the NRL headquarters . NRL caved and intervened by tigers supporters actions . We need to put pressure on the nrl and storm . Pvl won’t like media coverage of protests about their bias (saying that nicely)
PVL and Abdo have started to become dictators and need to be challenged. The club should take this further to be strong and show the NRL that we are not being stepped on. The NRL can get stuffed as per Mr Cariigans comments from the classic The Castle.
If they attempt to step on Parra we need to fight back – we allowed an origin / international to leave yrs before his contract ceased in good faith and he agreed to the terms. End of story – Melb can bugger off and so can PVL. He’s ruining the game – it’s always a game / sport and not seen as a product to us fans.
Sixties /40-20. I’ve only listened to the first 30 minutes of your podcast so you may have touched on what I’m going to write, which is also reliant on an aging memory….but wasn’t one of the conditions imposed on Ryles when he was released by Melbourne to Parra that he couldn’t approach any contracted Storm players for a year or two? How can those sorts of conditions be sacrosanct in contract law and yet the eels/Lomax mutually agreed release agreement can be challenged with the backing of its governing body? I assume the Storm have spoken to Lomax but how is that possible if he’s still contracted to the eels? It just stinks and I’d be right behind the club spending some coin to enforce their rights unless an acceptable offer is made.
The Storm are not the only team that would be interested in Lomax. We’re the party with the hand in this negotiation and the NRL should not be undermining us.
If we can’t get a fair deal from Melbourne then we can get one from another team. The NRL need to let this sort out organically and not poison the situation
Totally agree Alski. This is the point that Forty brought up in the podcast. Why should the Storm have sole rights to Lomax?
The Eels should be able to do a deal with any NRL club and shop around for the best opportunity for the Eels.
I said earlier and agree with Spark that the NRL are trying to bluff the Eels into not taking legal action while at the same time doing a favour for the Storm
The Storm can have Lomax for $200,000 and if the NRL awards us the 2009 primiership that the Storm had stripped because, well, they believe that they are special, and they don’t need to follow decorum nor rules
The biggest problem is the players association.
Of course they will back Lomax as he is a player and they have already come out days ago and said there will be no “horse trades” of players being swapped and forced out of clubs.
NRL will not fight the players association on this and we will get screwed over.
The NRL just wouldn’t try this shit against Gus Gould or the Broncos. Its an undeniable fact.
If the roles were reversed and the NRL had a brain fade thinking they could tell the Storm board what to do, there would already be an injunction sitting on PVL desk, with a note warning of reputational damage.
PVL just isn’t that stupid.
As Forty said, lets prove it… You can bet If the Tigers or Titans were trying to sign Lomax, the NRL would be like a fart in the wind.
As Orwell said … “All (clubs) are equal but some are more equal than others”
Great show gents, thank you.
The Storm and the NRL will play three cards, 1 player welfare, 2 restriction of trade and 3 what’s best for the code.
The fact that Zomax was prepared to turn his back on the code and potentially start an exodus of talent to R360 should be the end of Lomax in the NRL but it won’t be.
The Eels should be prepared to offer Lomax his old contract, play his bluff, what’s the worst possible scenario? The club is prepared to swap an Origin player for a player who is nowhere near Zac’s calibre. Why?
Best case scenario is we retain a quality winger, worst case scenario is remove all legal and moral arguments and sit in the box seat.
Modern players are big boys, I have no doubt the team will accept Lomax back, bridges will be mended should Lomax return.
My point is to put Lomax, the NRL and Melbourne in weak position.
I think the problem with having him back now is the cap for us. We probably have money now but we have a lot of young talent no doubt looking for upgrades in the future.
It will be nothing short of a joke if he runs out for Melbourne this year. PVL’s excuse that his an asset to the nrl and we need him in it I’d argue that he’d be trending to one of the most disliked players in it currently and 80% really couldn’t care if he plays or not. Be great in a few years when we don’t ever have to remember he played for parra
A solution could be for the NRL to adjust salary caps for both clubs for the next 3 years. (Life of contract) Ie deduct an agreed amount , say $200k per year from Melbourne salary cap and add an extra $200k per year to the Eels. This way the eels will benefit and can recruit from any club without forcing a player to leave the storm.