Lomax's Eels return denied as ex-Origin star floated in deal

Zac Lomax broached the idea of the star player returning to Parramatta this year after his R360 move fell through, but the club reportedly was unsupportive.

The end of what has been a messy contract saga for Lomax looked set to come one step closer to its end, with a court hearing scheduled for February 12 and 13.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, at the end of a directions hearing on Tuesday, Parramatta raised concerns that the case timeline could be prolonged if additional parties need to join the proceedings.

READ MORE: 'Enough excuses': Bennett under pressure amid finals drought

READ MORE: Cripps explains why viral training clip won't hurt Carlton players

READ MORE:  Wallabies schedule defended as All Blacks clash delayed

However, it's now been revealed that Lomax offered to return to the Eels, but the club shut down the request, suspecting it was move that could be raised in court - which it now has.

It's understood the prospect of the Storm taking another Parramatta player, Ryan Matterson, in addition to Lomax was also floated. That would give the Eels a chance to free up more salary cap space and deal a player that has fallen out of favour.

The Storm also upped their initial financial compensation offer to the Eels from $200,000 to $300,000, but this was also rejected.

As per the terms of Lomax's initial release, it was stated that he couldn't join another NRL team unless his original Eels contract had expired or adequate compensation was provided.

That contract was set to run until the end of the 2028 season, having put pen to paper on the deal after being granted an early release from the Dragons in 2024.

He then requested a release from Parramatta in bid to join rebel league R360. 

Now he is hoping to make the move to the Storm ahead of the club's round one battle against his former Western Sydney club. 

Storm majority owner Matt Tripp admitted that Lomax had been "unreliably informed that R360 was going ahead", when speaking on the matter with Code Sports.

He then took a swipe at the Eels' stance on the situation - being that they do not believe the offered $300,000 compensation from the club is adequate to settle Lomax's saga - noting that the Storm had allowed now Parramatta coach Jason Ryles to leave the club mid-season with no compensation.

"Now the shoe is on the other foot and their behaviour appears a little odd," Tripp said.

Lawyers on the behalf of Lomax have said that if the courts find that Parramatta's control and stance is valid, they will allege the Eels are acting unreasonably. 

It is that allegation that would ultimately expand the timeline of the case.

Lomax's barrister continued to push for the hearing to take place as originally scheduled in order to provide his client certainty about what his future as an elite athlete looks like.

However, the Eels' barrister, Arthur Moses, was in no mood to overlook key information about the saga.

"Your honour, of course that was an unsanctioned global franchise-based rugby union competition, which was to create a rival league to traditional rugby with, one might say, a unicorn proposal big of money and promises featuring [playing] overseas," he said.

"What we do know now, your honour, from documents that have been [produced] via subpoena is that he entered into a provisional contract with R360 conditional on him securing a release from the club.

"What we also know from the documents that have been subpoenaed is that prior to the Melbourne Storm approaching Parramatta for discussions to get consent that he [was in talks to] play for the Melbourne Storm in the competition this year, they had entered into, in effect, a contract that had been placed on the NRL portal, something called Gateway, prior to the Melbourne Storm approaching Parramatta."