Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys has revealed he "feels sorry" for departing NRL star Zac Lomax while delivering a blunt warning to any players considering defecting to the breakaway rugby competition R360.
Lomax's Controversial Parramatta Departure
The 26-year-old NSW Origin representative has been granted a release from the final three years of his contract with the Parramatta Eels, just months after joining the club from St George Illawarra on a deal reportedly worth $700,000 annually.
Lomax's exit follows Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen's departure, with both players linked to the rebel rugby union competition scheduled to launch in late 2025.
The Eels agreed to Lomax's release on the condition that he would not join another NRL club without their permission, clearing the path for a potential move to the unsanctioned competition.
V'landys's Stern Warning to Players and Managers
V'landys didn't mince words when discussing the risks facing players tempted by R360's substantial financial offers, which have reportedly included attempts to lure Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas with a salary exceeding $3 million per season.
"I felt very sorry for Zac. I think he's been very ill-advised," V'landys told 7NEWS. "Nobody has done any due diligence on the business model of this so-called new competition."
The ARLC chairman emphasized the uncertainty surrounding R360's viability, noting: "He could be forgoing millions of dollars on something that may never eventuate and if it does eventuate then it could be short-lived."
V'landys has threatened both players and their managers with 10-year bans from the NRL if they defect to the rebel competition, confirming these sanctions would apply even to free agents like Lomax and Papenhuyzen.
Serious Concerns About R360's Viability
The NRL boss raised multiple red flags about the breakaway competition's preparedness, highlighting the absence of key infrastructure with just twelve months until its proposed launch.
"Can the competition be sustained? They haven't got a broadcaster... nobody has seen anything," V'landys stated, expressing skepticism about R360's business model.
He revealed the competition appears to have secured only a YouTube deal, which would require teams to cover production costs of $200,000-$250,000 per game while still needing to establish refereeing systems and competition backend operations.
V'landys confirmed the bans would only apply to unsanctioned competitions, meaning players could still join established rugby competitions in Japan or Australia without penalty.
"As custodians of the game, we take it very seriously, our fans expect us to protect the game and we're going to do that," he asserted.
No Welcome Back if R360 Fails
In perhaps his strongest statement, V'landys declared that players who join the rebel competition shouldn't expect to return to the NRL if the venture collapses.
"The thing about rugby league is it always survives, there are always players coming through," he said. "That's the beauty of our system, we have the pathways and those players will be replaced."
His position received support from Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould, who tweeted: "As for R360, I'm not the least bit concerned... Rugby league will only get stronger … we are on a great trajectory."
The privately-owned R360 league, registered to the United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation, plans to feature teams across global cities including London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon, and Madrid, with a player draft scheduled for July.
Former England rugby star Mike Tindall serves as the face and co-founder of the competition, which aims to field six male and four female teams in its inaugural season.
