Lomax legal drama: Eels praised for "standing their ground"

The rift between the Parramatta Eels and Zac Lomax has deepened as the Eels launch legal action against their former star winger.

Lomax was released one year into a four-year deal with the Eels at the end of 2025 in order to pursue an opportunity with R360.

A condition of the release was Lomax could not return to the NRL until after his deal would have been completed. Lomax agreed and was subsequently released, however, the delay of the R360 competition cast doubt over his future.

The Melbourne Storm have emerged as Lomax's preferred landing spot, offering Parramatta financial compensation to allow him to return, which the Eels refused.

Mediation talks have broken down between the Eels and Lomax on Thursday, leading the club to launch legal action against the Origin representative.

“Parramatta are trying to get an injunction to halt Zac Lomax from playing or training for any club, i.e. Melbourne,” Carayannis explained on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“If Parramatta aren't comfortable, I'm not comfortable with Zac Lomax playing in the NRL. Once Parramatta are comfortable, Zac Lomax should be welcomed back into the NRL.

“The NRL want him back. The court proceedings now are going to supersede all that.

“(This) holds the NRL's influence over the decision, right, because this is going to be a court of law. The court might say, no, Parramatta, you've got no legal ground to stand on… and Parramatta have gambled in a way and lost because they could've got something out of it.

“But good on Parramatta for standing their ground, good on for a club for standing up for themselves, good on a club for not rolling over for the first time in a long time, and if you lose, unlucky, but now we know what Parramatta stand for under the new regime of Jason Ryles and their CEO Jim Sarantinos.

“I feel like for too long, players have just been able to get their way in these situations.

“When you make these decisions like Zac Lomax did in November… you have to live by those decisions and for too long, Zac has not lived by the decisions that he's made and those commitments.

“I want Zac Lomax playing in the NRL. So, this is not me against Zac Lomax. I would love, from a spectator, a fan point of view, Zac Lomax up against Parramatta in Round 1.”

The matter will be heard in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, with the Eels to be represented by Arthur Moses while Lomax hired top lawyer Ramy Qutami.

Per the Eels, Lomax requested a release in late July / early August to pursue opportunities within rugby union, specifically with R360.

The Eels agreed on the basis Lomax could not join another NRL club before October 31, 2028 without their express written consent. Lomax agreed to that condition.

"It is disappointing that we have reached this position, but we have an obligation to the Club’s stakeholders to protect the contractual rights of our Club and the expectation of our Members, players and supporters that contracts will be honoured," Eels chairman Matthew Beach said.

"Our Club believes in the importance of observing contractual obligations... contracts are the very stuff that any member of the community and companies have to honour in order to ensure that there is fair dealing. The same applies to the NRL, Clubs and players.

"Our coaching staff, players, Members and fans would not expect us to consent to the release based on what has been offered, and therefore we have no alternative but to pursue legal action to enforce the terms of the release and protect the rights of our Club."

The Eels would be willing to allow Lomax to return in exchange for one of Xavier Coates, Stefano Utoikamanu, or Jack Howarth, however, the Storm are unlikely to agree.

In recent days, Peter V'Landys reportedly was prepared to step in and make the Eels accept a 'reasonable' deal from the Storm, or another club, in order to allow Lomax to return.

The Eels and Storm play each other in Round 1.