Rebel League Postponement Sends Shockwaves Through Rugby
The planned rebel R360 competition has dramatically postponed its launch, throwing the futures of several high-profile NRL stars into a new state of flux and providing a major relief for the established codes. Officials confirmed the competition's first season, originally scheduled for October 2025, has been pushed back to 2028, a full two years later than initially planned.
Stars Granted Freedom as 'Mirage' Fades
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys swiftly confirmed that players like Ryan Papenhuyzen and Zac Lomax, who had been granted releases from their clubs to explore the R360 opportunity, are now welcome back. "Naturally Ryan and Zac are most welcome to come back," V'landys told AAP. "They were just victims of the mirage. (It's) no surprise. Their current business model was never going to work."
Both Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm) and Lomax (Parramatta Eels) had held discussions with the breakaway league and secured releases in the past two months. While neither had officially signed, Lomax had been particularly open with the Eels about his interest. The postponement also seemingly secures the future of Brisbane Broncos powerhouse Payne Haas, who had been heavily courted but now appears certain to remain in the NRL.
Bans and Strategic Delays Shape the Landscape
The collapse of the 2026 launch follows significant pressure from governing bodies. The NRL had threatened any defecting player with a massive 10-year ban, while Rugby Australia warned it would block players from national team duties. R360 officials, however, framed the delay as a strategic move. Boss Mike Tindall stated the decision was made to allow for "stronger market conditions" and to launch after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, suggesting the original timeline was too compressed.
Despite this official reasoning, the two-year postponement raises serious questions about the competition's long-term viability and financial backing, leaving players who were considering the leap with significant uncertainty.
Uncertain Futures for Key Players
The path forward for the affected players is now complex. Ryan Papenhuyzen had indicated a desire to consider his future in professional sport, and the Storm have been preparing to use Sua Fa'alogo at fullback. He could still pursue rugby union overseas or seek a return to the NRL, either with Melbourne or a rival club.
Zac Lomax's situation is even more constrained. A clause in his Parramatta exit means he cannot join another NRL club before 2028 if he returns to the league. This leaves him with several theoretical options: playing rugby in Europe or Japan before a potential R360 launch in 2028, returning to the Eels if they agree, or negotiating a release from Parramatta to join a different NRL team. Warriors veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who had also shown interest in R360, is another player now likely to remain in his current code.
