The Parramatta Eels have granted Zac Lomax an immediate release from his $700,000 per season contract, in a major blow for the NRL club. But it’s also a hammer blow for rep coaches Kevin Walters and Laurie Daley, and will hamper the Kangaroos’ chances of winning the World Cup next year, and NSW’s hopes of regaining the State of Origin shield.
The Eels announced on Sunday night that Lomax is departing the club immediately “to pursue opportunities outside the NRL”. The NSW and Kangaroos winger has been linked to cashed-up rugby union competition R360, which is believed to be starting in October next year.
Zac Lomax’s exit poses a headache for Kevin Walters and the Kangaroos ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Image: Getty
Peter V’landys has threatened bans of 10 years for any NRL player who breaks a contract to sign with R360. One chain of thought is that Lomax might sign with Japanese rugby (starting in December), before then switching to R360. Whether or not that gets around the 10-year ban remains to be seen.
It’s believed the Eels have only agreed to the release on the proviso that Lomax doesn’t sign with another NRL club before 2028 – which is when his deal was supposed to finish. His exit means Walters and Daley will have to change their plans for 2026, with Lomax a near-certainty to play for NSW and the Kangaroos if he was still in the NRL.
Zac Lomax was a Dally M winger of the year. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
What Zac Lomax exit means for NSW and Australia
He withdrew from contention for the recent Ashes tour to England with a reported hip injury, but would have started on the wing if fit. Josh Addo-Carr and Mark Nawaqanitawase were the wingers picked instead, but Nawaqanitawase will be back in rugby union by the time the 2026 league World Cup is played.
Xavier Coates will likely come back into the Kangaroos’ side after missing the Ashes with injury, and Addo-Carr is a fair chance to retain his spot. Others like Jacob Kiraz will likely come into contention.
Zac Lomax was a try-scoring machine for Parramatta and NSW. Image: Getty
It’s another blow for Walters after Payne Haas and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow recently switched from Australia to Samoa. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is also reportedly leaning towards playing for Samoa at the World Cup instead of the Kangaroos.
As for NSW and State of Origin, Lomax has been a revelation in the past two series and will leave a giant hole on the wing in Daley’s side. Brian To’o will likely be one of the wingers, and Nawaqanitawase or Kiraz could be handed an Origin debut now that Lomax is gone. Lomax played three Test matches for Australia and six Origin games for NSW, helping his sides win the Pacific Championships (Australia) and Origin series (NSW) in 2024.
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Zac Lomax joins Ryan Papenhuyzen in quitting NRL
He’s the second high-profile player to quit the NRL in recent weeks after Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen. The premiership winner and Clive Churchill medallist has also been linked to R360, but says he’s considering whether he wants to continue playing professional sport at all. Lomax and Papenhuyzen are both managed by Clinton Schifcofske.
Speaking last week, Storm CEO Justin Rodski said he genuinely isn’t sure if Papenhuyzen has made his mind up what he wants to do next. “Whether or not he ends up playing for R360, or if he ends up playing at another NRL club, or playing rugby in Japan, I don’t know,” Rodski said on Friday.
“One thing I do know is that he needed to take some time away from the game without any pressure on making a decision by November 1 or anything like that, so that he could properly assess what he wanted to do with his life, let alone his professional sporting career.”
The Brisbane Broncos are also facing the prospect of losing Payne Haas to R360. The superstar prop has been offered $3 million for one season, which pales in comparison to the $1.2m the Broncos can afford.