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The Lomax Saga has taken a wild twist today with evidence presented by Parramatta Eels in court alleging the Melbourne Storm attempted to leverage NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to “apply the blow torch on parramatta to get this done” while also allegedly coercing the Eels with the threat of punitive means being enacted against Parramatta’s salary cap.
The Tip Sheet reacts to the sensational claims, brought on by legal discovery, and how they threaten to blow the lid on the code in this landmark case. Sixties and Forty20 discuss the implications brought on by today’s revelations including some extremely uncomfortable questions raised around neutrality and the balance of power in the code. How can this be resolved and how concerned should fans – not just of the Blue & Gold – be moving forwards?
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I knew it, we’ve been copping the shaft for years
This is going to make people look at questionable officiating in a new light
There’s got to be an investigation into this!
Once a cheat always a cheat. Them and the Broncos get the fairy tale ride. East are not far behind lined up with the Riff. Parra do it the hard way but I tell you that first game will be a gladiatorial match – not for the faint hearted. If the storm don’t get their way they will come out like did round one 2025. Guess what we will be prepared.
Great viewing and this has the capacity to somewhat blow the lid on aspects of the games governance. If this is true, I would like to see how V’Landy’s and Abdo come back from this; let alone the Storm. And seriously all this for Lomax, a gut who has now backed out of two good clubs and who’s not to say he would be at Melb for more than a season.
The more I keep reading the more i am happy that Beach is in charge with Jim.
How bad does this look on the outside? The storm pulling the strings of Abdo….and as for V’Landy’s, no doubt he will have some spin occurring soon.
It makes you wonder about the other BIG clubs….
Well said Milo. A lot of this stuff was there to see from the get go. You have to wonder when Bellamy first spoke to Lomax. They would not be chasing him without Ballamy’s blessing.
I get the impression that May Beach is a change agent. He stopped the player options virtually day one. Supervised the Foxx contract, one year with an option in the clubs favour.
Tieing down the best of the juniors. I like what he brings.
Mat Beach
Thanks John, I have been lucky to hear Matt talk a few times – he is quietly spoken but you can tell that he knows his governance etc. I feel we are in good hands – and we all can come to our conclusions about this with Melb / NRL etc. I have been a sceptic for a while….but maybe not all is justified, I even go back to the 09 GF!! To me there were some questionable calls but hey I am a Parra fan.
If Lomax was agitating for a release late July / August it all smells a little for me but again I have no idea.
I also feel a guy like Jim Sarantinos is v passionate about the club; it comes through when he talks.
How dare Melb call us with demands / potential threats…..it is almost like HS stuff tbh.
The club is very much not leaking anything / sorting out the kids on the rise and trying to tie the best ones down all while supporting the main team with some depth. I feel we will see how the team pans out in 2 yrs and one thing I took away from the forum last week, was that they all work together in tandem – Coach / Roster Management and Club bosses.
I am so proud of our administration for digging their heels in and making a stance. It’s a punch in the face to all the naysayers who talked about accountants running the club instead of “footy heads”.
We all know how a fish rots from the head and it will become increasingly difficult for PVL and Abdo to survive this as everyone moves into self preservation mode.
It’s been asked more than once why PVL , for such a smart operator , has seemingly blundered into this position.
Abdo would have tipped him off about the text message when it happened.
My thoughts are that there is a lot lot more to come out here and the NRL and the Storm really didn’t think it would get this far.
So the question remains, why now we are here does PVL just continue to jump in the deep end ?
To understand why , you have to understand the man.
He has built his empire, his legacy on doing things his way, being answerable to no one.
It’s his way or the highway.
He is not changing because his ego won’t allow it. It’s pure hubris.
Even if there is evidence that directly implicates him in illegal or questionable activity, he will stand at the front and dare anyone to sack him.
It’s just the way he’s always been.
There will be contrition. No backpedaling.
No change of course.
What I can’t understand is why the Storm are so hot for Lomax.
Their reputation is taking a massive hit.
They aren’t the most popular team that’s for sure and every day they look worse.
Is he really worth it ?
Again, I’m really not a great conspiracy theorist but I wonder what the odds are this year that the Eels will finish with the highest 6 again against them on their tryline ???
If they are offering odds, get on it.
Why so hot for Lomax? Theories only. I reckon psychology again at work..they (define ‘they’)started digging a hole then suddenly found it was becoming too deep to get out without injuring themselves, so they kept digging.From a football perspective they will miss Katoa’s ability to attack the ball from kicks to the in-goal.
Spark you are correct on your theory about the six again. It’s an area almost impossible area to critique.
Why are they going so hard for Lomax. Do you think that maybe Bellamy sees him as a solution to his FB problem after Papenhausen retirement
It would have been good if you could have put together e detailed timeline of all the dooments made by PVL and then NRL about the alomax situation and compared it to the date the Storm CEO sent his message asking for the blowtorch to be applied. This might have provided greater context.
We live in a digital world and therefore whatever was said during a phone conversation is digitally recorded and is the same as if it was written. If what has been alleged by Parra is true, then Melbourne should be in a whole heap of trouble.
These are very disturbing disclosures. I admit that I’m a rusted-on biased eels supporter of over 50 years and at times through my blue & gold eyes I do wonder if decisions around the draw, judiciary etc. demonstrate a favouritism to certain clubs if not straight out bias. The comments by Storm officials (echoed by PVL) and the pressure trying to be exerted on the eels is downright scandalous. This is a huge NRL story but I’m hearing nothing but crickets on mainstream radio or TV about it. A coverup is underway particularly with Vegas looming. This really is a line in the sand moment for the NRL and the overall game. Regardless of the outcome I’m very proud of the fight being fought by eels HO and for what it’s worth they have my full backing to continue to fight the good fight.
Tks men. Hard to believe some of the opinions on comment sites. Even with these latest revelations people are saying Parra is being too tough, too principled etc…no mention of Lomax’s well reported actions and his principles, not to mention the NRL and the Storm. No mention that one of the most important foundation pieces of the NRL as a profession is worth protecting. No mention that Parra ensured Lomax sought and received legal guidance etc etc…but I guess not everyone follows it as keenly as those close to the game, clubs and players.
PVL sob story about him visiting a terminally ill child wasn’t random. It’s all part of a carefully thought out strategy designed to illicit sympathy and pull on the heartstrings.
If you noticed, PLV did say in his latest that he has been in constant contact with Lomax and he’s doing it tough.
I’m reliability informed there are more to come. Interviews with family, complete with tears and worry about his mental health moving forward are ready to go.
All with the full blessing of the NRL.
Make no mistake, the Eels are up against a giant PR machine here and PVL and co will not take a punch to the face lying down.
Tripps alleged comment about salary cap penalties didn’t just fall out of the sky, he and PVL would have been in deep discussions about how to penalise us.
Agreed, PVL should be deeply ashamed to use a child’s misfortune to aid his agenda. The parents should be absolutely filthy.
He crossed grub territory and for who?
A bloke who put his middle finger up at two clubs, his country, Rugby League and the grubbiest NRL club in history.
This is not a PR game he can win, fans, other clubs and now the general public have sided with the Eels.
Storm are so entitled and the NRL are clearly a corrupt organisation. It was always heavily suspected, but I guess there was never a way for cold hard evidence to suggest it. Well, now there is…
While I absolutely love us finally standing up to this bullshit, does anyone fear that us taking a stance against the NRL will heavily backfire on us during the season? I.e. having the refs heavily against us all season, unfair suspensions, etc. This would suggest corruption, but I guess we’ve already established that…
We will not win a penalty or 6 again count all year. Will also get hammered at the judiciary
That’s an easy cover up Jerome. We always get hammered at the judiciary
Interesting that PVL went on hello sport podcast to say he won’t not back Zac because Zac went out of his way to visit a fan in hospital years ago at pvl request. So Pvl is really just admitting a real or apprehended bias that infects his decision making as nrl chairman? It seems so to me.
The threat from storm about salary cap penalty to eels and then the text to Abdo are disgraceful. The other nrl clubs ceos should all write a statement backing Parra and voicing their concern about processes.
Arthur Moses sc is a tenacious advocate. He will go hard at Zac and Melbourne in the trial – what we have read so far is just the start it seems
I have been watching to see how far this goes with interest. A couple of weeks ago I was glad we took legal action and really thought that would speed up a resolution with us getting something real in compensation. A wealthy club like Parra does not ‘need’ or benefit from a small cash transfer fee. . Our football team needs to benefit because if we make the 8 the transfer fee offered by the Storm would be made by the club on increased merchandise sales.
The Storm is a competitor why should we help them get stronger? Insane to think the NRL thought this was a reasonable resolution even more so that we would just roll over and help Melbourne. Hello do they not remember 2009 because us Eels fans sure do.
The text released yesterday and the alleged phone conversation is damming. It does not matter the reply from the NRL, the Storm felt they had the right and confidence to send and say it. It read like a text you send a friend, not your boss. Abdo is meant to be the Storm boss- clearly that is not the case. Players get suspended and fined for ‘ bringing the game into disrepute through words or actions’. I would suggest this text alone does the very same thing. Over to you PVL and Abdo- what punishments awaits the Storm?
In terms of fearing repercussions re bunker, referee or match review. Could it really be any worse?
In fact the ‘blowtorch’ could be on the NRL all year. Every call or unfair decision that goes against us or conversely favours the Storm will build the narrative the Storm and NRL themselves have created.
The NRL is a spectator sport- fans click on websites, switch on the TV and go to stadiums- turning them against you in a united stand ( as is evident with rival fans siding with Parra in unison) is bad business, really bad business.
I see this court case now as a win/ win for Parra and I hope they go all the way to the end- no negotiating with the Storm let the judge decide.
– If the case goes our way- great outcome for us and the game- contracts mean something.
– if it goes against Parra in court at least we will air all the dirty laundry from the Storm and NRL. Any loss in court will be diminished by the landslide victory in the court of public opinion siding heavily with Parra.
For too long the big and mostly privately owned clubs in the NRL have appeared to get special treatment. Well maybe this case will help to solve that age old conspiracy and by the end of the case we might be able to remove the word ‘appeared’ from that said conspiracy once and for all.
At times I have criticised some decisions made by the board and leaders in our club as being weak or short sighted – well I was wrong because I am so proud with them having the courage to stand up to not only Zac but as it is being discovered via subpoenaed documents the bullies that are the Storm and NRL.
No matter the monetary costs, or outcome from the court we have won the biggest victory. A very big spotlight is exposing NRL favouritism. This is becoming a case exposing far more than Zac Lomax’s inability to honour his words. It is becoming quickly a case exposing the inner dealings of the NRL and its rich private club owners.
Well done to our Chairman and CEO.
Thank you from a proud and passionate Parra fan.
So, have we now created a new saying? If you mishandle a blowtorch will it in turn burn you?
My mind immediately starts to wonder what favours have been pulled year after year in the NRL. Do the “big” clubs get earlier or inside notice on how the game will be policed each year, allowing them to navigate the rules best? Do they get looked after in judicial matters for suspensions? Setting the draw? You could come up with a list as long as your arm.
The fact that the Storm CEO felt he could text Abdo (and no doubt they also spoke) tells you that door is open. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been so brazen about it.
At a minimum you’d think the Storm CEO and PVL need to be binned after all of this. I’m not saying it will happen, just that it should. Their reputations are each respectively in tatters over this.
And all of this over a bloke who turned his back on the game, 6 months into a 4 year contract, and deliberately broke multiple contracts successively. Great footy talent, but the IQ of a peanut …. That or his agent is a dud.
I’ve enjoyed the Eels heads keeping out of the media games and sticking to their actual business (like we’ve done in player negotiations lately).
It’s a very professional and disciplined attitude that has allowed the others to all trip (excuse the pun) over their own narrative manipulating bs.
#realeasethestormfiles #goyoumightyeels
I too was shocked and heavily disappointed regarding the leaked messages between NRL CEO and storm CEO
But you must consider that people like myself who have connections via work + friends networks with players from other clubs and not only parramatta
Many of the players themselves actually believe there’s corruption and openly say this to their friends, or even to their barber (how I first found out about some of this)
If you remember, I posted about NRL players telling the barber I know of that they knew of fellow NRL players not only involved with using Cocaine regularly, but getting involved with sports betting through friends accounts / engaging in illegal activities
I posted about the sports betting thing before the cheese allegations ever came to light in the media – I knew about this because other players do it too, but only cheese ever got found out about
The other thing NRL players nearly all believe (and I know this first hand), from behind closed doors
The senior players in the NRL largely see it and its refs as being corrupt or at the bare minimum incompetency with huge amounts of biases in the game – after a few drinks the players themselves have told countless fans and friends they believe certain clubs and players receive preferential treatment, and it feels like corruption
In the age of information and technology, it’s only now that there’s some level of transparency, bad things do occasionally leak
It’s not crazy to think that there’s so called “conspiracies” in the game.. when you’ve seen it first hand, a leading club directing the NRL to punish its competitor
What goes on that we don’t know or hear about? How is the CEO of a club able to ask favours from the NRL CEO? How can he feel comfortable to talk like that? This is extremely unprofessional & concerning
What I can say and I’ll be careful how i word this, I can also tell you that certain referees are very good friends with some football clubs leaders. As in, some of them go over for barbecues at the directors, or team coaches houses like mates
I will say this happens at a big Sydney club, I know because large sponsors of this club also get invited over to those bbq’s, and noticed several top NRL referees hanging out with them
Is this illegal? No. But is this concerning? Absolutely. Is this true? Absolutely. Would anything suprise you after seeing the NRL CEO taking instructions from the Storm CEO? And seemingly mates with him, colluding to team up and punish a club for not doing what the Storm wants?
What’s hard for us humans in 2026 is we still think that corruption or questionable professionalism is a “thing of the past” because we have improved dramatically over time, but you must not be foolish and think that this game is fair
In the NRL there is clear favourites, both from the refereeing point of view, even at the judiciary, and Clubs like the Storm get clear preferential treatment, they can even encourage the NRL ceo to go after us
Unfortunately the NRL is no different to real estate agencies and other large corporations who work in gray areas to grow their business
It’s obviously good business for the NRL to have a successful club in Victoria, and they will always want them to be a successful team to build up the game & viewership in Melbourne
I really do try to think our games not corrupt or doesn’t have any biases, I DONT WANT any conspiracy’s or shady things happening around it
But unfortunately the biases you see on the TV and in the media, are VERY real, and the game is NOT equal for each club
Parramatta is unfortunately not one of the clubs who’s a sweetheart to the NRL
If we SEEN what these guys talked about doing to Parra…
What gets said & done which we DO NOT know about?
This storm gate thing is possibly only the tip of the ice berg.
I’ll make this clear so ppl don’t think Parra.
I know first hand of NRL ref’s attending roosters higher ups bbq’s at their houses like mates before
At the top, the top clubs are mates with the heads of the NRL, even mates either top referees
Would this affect their ability to make not biased decisions? 100% in my opinion
Is this surprising after seeing how Storm CEO texts the NRL ceo?
Not at all… there is absolutely biases and illegal tactics being used by both clubs and player agents
And the Zac Lomax scandal should work as a huge wake up for everyone
Muz,
The NRL has as much credibility as reality TV and is just as scripted.
You talk to many of the old timers, players, officials and sponsors and you lose your innocence very quickly.
The boys here saying that they smell something going on is hilarious because surely they would have heard the same things we have heard but I appreciate their position and the fact there are commercial things at play here.
But …just like those often maligned reality shows, a large part of the population BELIEVE the NRL is a level playing field and rise and fall on how their team goes.
AND Just like the reality shows , what saves the NRL is that it makes money, lots of money, so nothing is going to change and that’s what saves people like PVL when he goes rogue.
I reckon at the end of the day we just have to accept it as entertainment.
What do they say ? Let the kids be kids and believe in Santa Claus.
Yer completely agree always believed it but this just confirms how invested the nrl are in making sure the storm stay at the pointy end of the table. A misfiring Melbourne is a complete disaster for the game in nrls’s eyes and there is
Absolutely no coincidence they have not missed a finals in 20+ years It doesn’t just come down to great coaching and a well run club.
It’s hard to believe that we would be better off without a state of origin rep and international but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse of fit type player for a premiership charge. I’m so glad his gone but I’d hate to see him at Melbourne on principal it just shouldn’t be allowed to happen.
I know the boys made it clear that there is no evidence to suggest the NRL are involved in any misconduct however, the casual tone of the text from Rodski suggests otherwise. You don’t get that comfortable in communications unless there is history of similar communications. The message proves there is a relationship between Rodski and Abdo that crosses the line and possibly enters corruption territory.
Storm asked for a favour. I read early on that Parra was forced to go to court as the NRL was about to register the contract lodged by the storm. What more do we need to know?
Be aware of the narratives going on here.
First of all, have you noticed how suspiciously quiet the media has been since all this has come out? Nothing has been said from any media outlet that condemns what has come out. Sure, they will argue that there’s a court case going on, but I haven’t personally seen one single thing, either online or in the Sunday papers regarding this. Again, it seems suspiciously quiet.
This leads me to ask myself whether the NRL have asked media outlets to stay silent regarding this? I have no idea, but the commercial ramifications are very real and the NRL are fully aware of them.
What I have also noticed is the NRL using its influence in the media.
I have been listening to the narratives over the last couple of weeks in particular, especially how they have now changed from the original ones. Coincidence? Perhaps, however what I know is that there is ALWAYS commercial realities along with forms of quid pro quo being played out in the background. What they are I have no idea, but they are there – why else would the narratives change?
Hence why you have seen the NRL come out to try and ‘soften’ and perhaps even sway public opinion. This is a basic powerplay being used. They will comment around the ‘best interests’ of the game, mental health concerns, or they may attempt to utilise commercial reality/viability – so even though a contract may be valid and legal, it may not be ‘commercially viable’ to uphold it in full or in part due to any number of commercial reasons. We’ve seen some of this already.
Looking in from an outsiders perspective I’m just paying attention at the narratives going on here. For example, I have not seen any public statement from the NRL regarding these allegations, in particular in condemning them.
And no, I’m not a ‘conspiracy theorist’ – all I am doing is looking at what’s going and being said, and asking myself, what’s beneath the surface here, because that’s where the true answers lie. (I do this as part of my work so I can spot it a mile away).
What will happen? I have no idea, but you can bet your bottom dollar the NRL will use whatever influence it has in the media to change the narrative and sway public opinion as best as they can. They will try (and have already attempted to do so) to make Parramatta look like the bad guys in all this.
So where to for Parra? I’m also looking at what’s NOT being said as much as what is being said. I suspect (and I could be wrong) that they have a few trump cards up their sleeve. What they are I have no idea, but they have been very, very quiet. In any negotiation, there is a power principle that basically says, he who hold all the power is often the one who doesn’t say a word because they don’t need to.
I suspect there will be a compromise because the NRL will in no way want dirty laundry to be aired- again commercial reasons for this, in particular if reputations are damaged or there has been the hint of illegality. However this may change altogether if they tick Parra off who may then decide to go public, airing all the dirty laundry via the courtroom. (There is also the very, very slight possibility that this could escalate into a criminal proceeding involving intentional wrongdoing, however I would be very surprised if this were the case).
Whatever happens is anyone’s guess, but there will be quite a bit going on behind the scenes at the moment, this is what I know for sure.
I think you are correct here Eddie B. I think that the Eels played their trump card by dragging the NRL into court. The reason that I say that is because they would then have been subject to discovery.
Will be interesting to see Roly Polly’s take on this!
Ok, we win the case with the restraint being upheld. But there’s more to this…
Why would the original restraint be shortened by 12 months when there was no need to? There are reasons for this, which I suspect are as follows…
Firstly, it makes Parra look ‘reasonable’, and ‘the good guy’ which is a great for PR. Again, there are commercial reasons for this. Think how this goodwill gesture will generate potential sponsors, along with the increase in merchandise sales and supporter engagement.
Further, there are players in the NRL who would have been watching with interest and they will be impressed with the way we handled this. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with a club like this- reasonable, good guys, and yet have a strong corporate governance, and the courage to stand their ground. Well played Parra.
As an add-on to this, other clubs will now need to tread carefully given the decision.
2ndly, the fact they restraint has been shortened tells me there’s a deal there. Lomax will be playing NRL before the restraint is up, its just a matter of negotiating the right player(s) to swap. Again, because of the way Parra played this, there are players who now be thinking that Parra is the type of club they’d like to be associated with. Whether he plays for Storm or some other club is anyone’s guess.
As a point of interest, how will the $250K legal costs the Storm have to pay the Eels be treated? I wonder!!!
3rdly- The NRL did not want dirty laundry aired. It would impact commercially. However Parra still hold the subpoenaed evidence, which means they still hold the cards. The NRL know this, so I suspect there is some negotiating still going on regarding this between the NRL and Parra.
So where to from here? I suspect that discussions are still being held in the background and Lomax will be back in the NRL before too long. Parra will strengthen their football department, and most importantly they have sent a strong message to the NRL. There’s more to play out here, and remember, this is about commercial interests being protected. If Parra play their cards right, they will benefit from this too.