Parramatta Eels Escalate Contract Battle with Zac Lomax to Supreme Court
The Parramatta Eels have initiated legal proceedings against former winger Zac Lomax, with the NRL club set to face the NSW State of Origin star in the NSW Supreme Court. This courtroom confrontation comes after mediation talks between the Eels, Lomax, and the Melbourne Storm collapsed completely, leaving the parties at an impasse over contractual obligations.
Contractual Conditions at Heart of Legal Dispute
At the core of this escalating conflict are the specific conditions attached to Lomax's release from his Parramatta contract at the conclusion of last season. The Eels maintain that as part of their agreement to release the goalkicking outside back, they secured a crucial provision: Lomax would not be permitted to join any rival NRL club without Parramatta's explicit consent until the year 2028.
This arrangement was specifically designed to facilitate Lomax's pursuit of opportunities in rugby union, particularly with the emerging R360 competition. When the R360 competition's launch date was unexpectedly postponed from 2026 to 2028, Lomax found himself in professional limbo, creating the circumstances that have led to this legal showdown.
Mediation Breakdown Precedes Court Action
On Thursday, the Parramatta club released an official statement confirming that mediation efforts had failed to resolve the standoff. Eels chairman Matthew Beach expressed disappointment at the situation but emphasized the club's duty to protect its contractual rights for the benefit of all stakeholders.
"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," Beach stated firmly. "Our club believes in the importance of observing contractual obligations."
Storm's Interest Complicates Contractual Landscape
The Melbourne Storm's interest in acquiring Lomax has significantly complicated matters. Following their grand final loss to Brisbane, Melbourne has seen departures including Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, making the former St George Illawarra star an attractive recruitment target.
Parramatta has remained steadfast in their position, indicating they would only consider waiving their agreement with Lomax if they received proper compensation from the Storm for their football program. Widespread speculation suggests Melbourne might release players to facilitate Lomax's move, but the Eels are demanding what they term a "fair exchange of value" for their program.
Legal Representation and Registered Documentation
Beach highlighted that Lomax had legal representation during the original release negotiations and willingly accepted the conditions based on his stated focus on rugby union opportunities. The release documentation was formally registered with the NRL, which is fully aware of the attached conditions.
"Zac accepted those conditions on the basis that he told us that his interests were focused on pursuing opportunities with rugby union, particularly R360," Beach explained in the club's statement.
Court Proceedings Scheduled
The Eels have engaged prominent legal counsel Arthur Moses to lead their case, which is officially listed for hearing this Friday at the NSW Supreme Court. This legal action represents a significant escalation in what has become one of the NRL's most closely watched contractual disputes, with implications for player movement regulations and club negotiation strategies across the competition.
As the Friday court date approaches, all parties await a judicial determination that could set important precedents for how NRL contracts are interpreted and enforced when players seek to transition between codes or clubs under complex circumstances.
