Should the Storm be aggrieved by Lomax's potential NRL return?

With Zac Lomax nearing closer to a potential NRL return with the PNG Chiefs, Denan Kemp expressed some sympathy for the Melbourne Storm after seemingly missing out.

In what feels like a distant memory, the Storm were in hot pursuit of the versatile back before the start of the season following his release from his contract with the Eels.

It was to the point that Melbourne paid Lomax’s legal fees to help the NSW representative fight against his former club in the NSW Supreme Court to override a clause in his release to R360 preventing him from playing for another NRL club before November 1, 2027.

That attempt was unsuccessful with Lomax subsequently taking up an opportunity in Super Rugby with the Western Force in the meantime.

But with Lomax able to return in 2028, just in time for the PNG Chiefs’ arrival into the competition, the NRL’s 19th side have been keen on bringing in the 26-year-old, having brought him for a tour of the country with a deal in the works.

With a potential signature nearing, the former Broncos and Warriors winger believes the Storm should feel somewhat aggrieved over the situation after all the effort they went to bring him across.

“If I'm the Melbourne Storm, I am not happy,” Kemp said on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“The Melbourne Storm went so hard for him that they literally paid for his lawyer's fees to fight the Eels to get out of a contract.

“There was those emails of them trying to tell the NRL to put pressure on the Eels to release Lomax, so that happens.

 “The Storm is still keen on Lomax, so the Eels say to them, alright, ‘We'll release Lomax from our agreement next year if you give us (Jack) Howarth’.

“The Storm say, OK, you can have Howarth.

“Then they reach back out to Lomax and Lomax says no, I'm not going to the Storm.

“I'm gonna honour my contract in Rugby Union (with R360), but then I'm gonna go and sign for the Chiefs.

“I would be…wow, it's crazy.”

The Storm are back in Melbourne next week when they take on the Bulldogs at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Kick-off takes place at 8pm AEST.