Bellamy ‘hopeful’ as Lomax saga rolls on
Shayne Hope and Scott Bailey |
Craig Bellamy remains hopeful star winger Zac Lomax will join Melbourne’s NRL premiership push this season amid the ongoing saga around his playing future.
Lomax’s contract stand-off is before the NSW Supreme Court, with the 26-year-old appearing increasingly unlikely to be cleared to play for Melbourne against his former club Parramatta in round one.
The Eels have stressed that at the time of Lomax’s exit to join the since-postponed rugby competition R360, he agreed not to join an NRL rival before the end of the 2028 season without their “express written consent”.
Melbourne have since made two separate financial offers to Parramatta for Lomax to be cleared to join them in 2026, with both approaches rejected.
The matter is due before the court on Thursday and Friday, but the hearing itself won’t begin until March 2, just three days before the two sides face off on the field.
“You probably have to ask higher up guys than me,” Storm coach Bellamy said on Thursday.
“I don’t know what’s happening there at the moment.
“It sort of changes and then it doesn’t change or whatever.
“I’m hopeful, without a doubt. We’d love to see him.”
Coming off successive grand final defeats, Melbourne have lost key players Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, while star second-rower Eli Katoa remains sidelined indefinitely.
Katoa underwent emergency surgery in November to treat a brain bleed suffered while playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships.
“He’s probably been our best player the last couple of years, you know, so it’s going to be a little bit more difficult than we’ve had in the last couple of years,” Bellamy said.
“But we’ve got some good kids coming through.
“We won the Under 21s last year, so there’s a couple of good kids there that we think if we can give them time they can be a real help to us this year.”
One of those is Hugo Peel, who is in the mix to fill the fullback role vacated by Papenhuyzen.
Versatile star Nick Meaney could also fill the No.1 jersey if required, but Sualauvi Fa’alogo is in line for first crack.
“He probably hasn’t in the past been one of our fittest players or athletes, as they call them these days, but this year he’s come back really fit,” Bellamy said.
“He’s done a lot of work and he realises to play that position you need to be fit and you need to have endurance.
“We all know he’s got pace and whatever, but you need to improve his endurance, and he has.”
Bellamy last week re-signed with Melbourne for a further two seasons, taking him into a 26th campaign at the helm.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while and just thought I had a bit more time in me,” Bellamy said.
“One of the other things, my wife 12 months ago probably wasn’t that keen on going on, but she’s basically given me her support as well, so it all worked out.”
Melbourne’s preparation for the 2026 season ramps up a gear when they take on Canberra in a trial game at Queanbeyan on Friday night.
AAP
