Lomax’s Storm switch delayed further as boss eyes Vegas
Miklos Bolza |
Hopes of Zac Lomax filling a gaping hole on Melbourne Storm’s wing have been dealt a blow as a looming Las Vegas trip by his potential boss further delays a court outcome.
Lomax jumped ship from the Parramatta Eels and is seeking to join the Storm for the 2026 season through a NSW Supreme Court lawsuit.
The Eels claim the winger knew he would need their permission before tearing up his $700,000-a-year contract and moving to another NRL club.
The Origin representative was allowed to leave in November in a failed bid to join the R360 before the breakaway rugby union competition was postponed.
A week-long trial set to begin on Monday has bled further into the NRL season, with closing submissions set for March 17 after round two.
Justice Francois Kunc will likely need time to consider his decision after that, putting any hope of Lomax in purple before round four under serious threat.
Melbourne’s Supreme Court battle to land the NSW Origin representative has taken on added importance after star winger Xavier Coates was ruled out until round 10 with injury.
While that gap could have been filled by winger and fullback Sua Faalogo, he’s needed in the No.1 jersey after star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen left in October.
It’s added to the headaches for Storm chairman Matt Tripp, whose request to give evidence in the Lomax trial from the United States was denied on Tuesday.
Tripp is travelling to Las Vegas for the NRL opening game at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday (local time) before he spruiks his betting business on a US tour.
The Supreme Court was told he would only be a witness in the case if his US trip was left intact.
While Parramatta protested that two witnesses on their side had cancelled Vegas trips over requests to testify in person, Tripp will be able to take his seat in the stadium’s luxury chairman’s lounge for the triple-bill extravaganza.
He will instead give evidence in court on March 13 after he returns to Sydney.
Tripp was a central figure whose credit would be under attack during the trial, Eels barrister Arthur Moses SC said.
The Storm boss had made an implied threat towards the Eels saying the NRL could punish Parramatta if they held firm on Lomax by issuing a salary cap sanction, the barrister said.
The NRL had denied saying this, he noted.
“Did (Tripp) make it up? Or who’s telling the truth?” Mr Moses asked.
Parramatta will probe claims by Tripp that Peter V’Landys, who oversees rugby league in Australia, had called the Eels “unreasonable”.
The Storm chairman also alleged the Australian Rugby League Commission chairman promised to register Lomax’s contract regardless of what happened with the Eels, Mr Moses said.
It has sought documents showing the NRL offered these kinds of assurances as they would explain why the Storm had such confidence, the barrister said.
The Eels will have to provide contracts and deeds of release for six other players to Lomax’s legal team.
The winger hopes to compare his situation with others allowed to play with rival clubs to see if the restriction on who he signs up with is unreasonable and invalid.
Communications within the Eels about whether any top 30 NRL players could replace Lomax will also have to be handed over.
Melbourne has indemnified Lomax, meaning it will be on the hook to pay a hefty legal bill if he loses the lawsuit.
The club has made three separate offers to Parramatta to try to free Lomax to play this season.
All have been rejected.
Most recently, Melbourne offered Parramatta $300,000 for the 26-year-old to play for them this season, with $211,000 of that in salary-cap relief.
If the Storm suit fails, Lomax is likely to pause his league career and pursue contracts in union until at least 2029.
AAP