Two NRL stars are in limbo and a host have had the rug pulled out from under them after R360 officials made the decision to delay their competition launch until 2028.
R360 was heavily pursuing elite rugby league talent, with Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen even released from their NRL contracts as defections loomed.
But now, a carrot reportedly worth a minimum US$1 million per season has been taken away from them and their futures are unclear.
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So – where do they and other players linked to R360 stand after the delay?
ZAC LOMAX
WHERE HE’S AT NOW
Lomax is in limbo.
After being granted an immediate release from his lucrative Eels contract, he looked almost certain to make a rugby switch and join R360.
The biggest question was where would he spend his time until the competition was slated to begin.
But now without the rebel rugby competition to join, Lomax has been left well and truly in the lurch.
The gun winger has been training almost daily inside the Wollongong gym of UFC featherweight star Alexander Volkanovski, and there’s potential he tries his hand at MMA.
However, it looks almost certain he will negotiate a deal to play either rugby league or union, with his agent Clinton Scifcofske confident he will find a deal for his client.
“Zac has options,” Scifcoske said.
“Zac has always been interested in other things so he can pick and choose now.
“There’s no shortage of interest. We’ll make a final decision shortly.”
So what are those options?
Zac Lomax’s options are wide open.Source: Supplied Source Known
WHERE HE COULD END UP
After being granted a release could Lomax return to the Eels?
Unlikely. He’d have to be willing to take a significant pay cut to return to Jason Ryles’ squad and early indications are he was deemed surplus to requirements, with the Eels happy to reinvest his salary elsewhere; with an immediate link made to a plunge for Rabbitohs Test enforcer Keaon Koloamatangi.
But a return to the NRL will be allowed for Lomax, according to ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys, who previously announced that players who signed with R360 would incur 10-year bans.
“They were just victims of the mirage,” V’landys told AAP. “(It’s) no surprise. Their current business model was never going to work. It’s a shame so many people were hoodwinked.”
The Eels will also have to give their blessing should Lomax be ready to put pen to paper on an NRL deal.
The Perth Bears are an obvious option, with the 18th franchise desperately on the lookout to land a marquee star.
Lomax could sign a one-year deal and play out one further season in the NRL before making a final call on his rugby switch.
The Titans are also on the lookout for outside backs with the futures of Brian Kelly and Phillip Sami up in the air, and they also have cap space available.
Should the Roosters fail to land Sea Eagles star Reuben Garrick’s services, Lomax also fits that mould being a talented, goalkicking outside back who could fill the void left by Mark Nawaqanitawase, who will return to rugby in 2027.
But outside of the NRL, Lomax has also been linked to both French and Japanese rugby union — which could then put him on track for a potential Super Rugby contract.
A move to the French Top 14 rugby competition could come in the form of a “medical joker” to replace any players who go down with injuries mid-year, while Japan is believed to be a long shot, with squads finalised ahead of a season kick-off this month.
The French competition kicked off in September and runs until June next year, and if Lomax makes that move he could land on the radar of Aussie franchises.
However, whichever way he goes, Lomax is set for a hefty pay cut from the $700,000 salary he walked out on.
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A Super Rugby contract would, according to the SMH, be worth around $150,000 — less than a quarter of what he was on at the Eels — while his potential earnings abroad would be short-lived unless he seriously impressed.
Meanwhile, former dual international Lote Tuqiri believes a switch to the 15-man code should be Lomax’s next move with a potential Wallabies berth on the horizon.
“The Wallabies would look at him, for sure. Not too many blokes in the current squad have put up their hands. There are spots available,” Tuqiri told CODE Sports.
“Lomax would be successful in rugby union. He is great under the high ball, he’s one of the best exponents in rugby league, he is a goal kicker, a big body, he’s aggressive and has a kicking game.
“He should go chase the money overseas, come back for a Super Rugby season and then have a crack at the World Cup.”
RYAN PAPENHUYZEN
WHERE HE’S AT NOW
Ryan Papenhuyzen’s situation is different.
He was released by the Storm and it has been widely suggested he will take some time away from professional sport, so he won’t be in any rush to plot out his next move.
His agent Schifcofske also outlined that the R360 delays didn’t have an influence on Papenhuyzen; however, he would have been afforded almost a year away from sport had he joined the rebel competition, which was originally due to start in October next year.
“This doesn’t affect ‘Paps’ at all,” Schifcofske said.
“He wanted time away from the game completely and that’s what he is doing.”
Outside of his R360 links, Papenhuyzen’s future remains murky — but he will almost certainly take the field again in the future, whenever that may be.
Ryan Papenhuyzen after the Brisbane Broncos won the NRL grand final against his Melbourne Storm side.Source: News Corp Australia
WHERE HE COULD END UP
Papenhuyzen looks the most likely of the two released players to once again play in the NRL.
However, it seems unlikely that he will feature during the 2026 season, unless he kicks off his own pre-season campaign in the new year.
One thing is for certain though — NRL clubs will be lining up to sign him should the superstar fullback become available.
Given he was born and raised in Sydney, there’s a chance Papenhuyzen could ink a deal with a Sydney-based club.
The Dragons have Clint Gutherson in their No.1 jersey, though it remains to be seen how many years left he has considering his knee issues and his insane level of output.
The Sharks also have a big question mark over their fullback spot, with the long-term future of Will Kennedy uncertain with rising star Liam Ison waiting in the wings.
Papenhuyzen could even return to the Storm, given he was a regular fixture under Craig Bellamy — but it remains to be seen if they would take him back, given there are high hopes for likely replacement Sua Fa’alogo.
The most likely scenario looks to be a move to new franchise Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural campaign in 2027. The WA team is desperate for a marquee signing and the 2020 Clive Churchill Medallist would fit the bill, with a full salary cap at their disposal to make him a hefty offer.
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That would allow Papenhuyzen more than a year to take some time away from the game, get himself focused and then dive into pre-season late next year.
The Perth market is also likely to be less focused on their NRL franchise, given the city is dominated by a pair of AFL teams; like Melbourne, the spotlight would be minimal, whereas the Sydney fishbowl could prove challenging for the gun fullback.
PAYNE HAAS
WHERE HE’S AT NOW
Last week, reports suggested that R360 were leading the race to sign Haas and that the superstar middle would rebuff the Broncos to ink a life-changing contract with the breakaway rugby union league.
It led to V’landys flying up to Brisbane to meet with Haas and discuss his future, and likely warn the prop of the risks associated with signing with an unsanctioned competition.
However, the announcement of a postponed start to R360 puts the Broncos in pole position to retain Haas.
While it might be for significantly less money, the delayed start to R360 doesn’t mean that Haas will lose out entirely.
The Broncos are keen to extend him on a long-term deal and make him the highest-paid prop in NRL history.
Haas is currently on $1.1 million a year with his current deal running until the end of 2026, which makes him a free agent…
Competition delay rocks R360 hopefuls | 00:39
WHERE HE COULD END UP
In all honestly, it would be a major shock if Haas signed with any other NRL club than the Broncos.
There will be teams, namely the Perth Bears, who will be able to tempt Haas with more money than the Broncos’ offer of $1.2 million a season, but the 25-year-old loves Brisbane and his agent is on the record saying his client won’t let money be the determining factor.
After signing with the Broncos as a teenager and developing into the game’s best middle forward, Haas will want to repay the faith.
Given R360 is probably off the table for now, other clubs like the Bears could reset and increase their offer in a last ditch bid to lure Haas, but it’s unlikely to sway him away from the Broncos.
Payne Haas looks set to remain with the Broncos.Source: News Corp Australia
OTHER R360-LINKED PLAYERS
While Lomax, Papenhuyzen and Haas are the NRL’s big three when it comes to R360 links, there have been a handful of other players who were shown interest by the rebel league.
Diminutive Souths fullback Jye Gray was named in early reports as a player who R360 were very interested in.
Gray considered it but ultimately decided to stay where he was, signing a long-term deal with the Bunnies until the end of 2029.
Gray is the favourite to wear the Souths No. 1 jersey next year, with the Rabbitohs set to permanently move Latrell Mitchell into the centres.
According to CODE, R360 attempted to ‘secretly poach’ Storm playmaker Cam Munster.
It wasn’t just R360 though. Rugby Australia also approached Munster’s team in September about a possible code switch.
Munster denied reports he had met with R360 after the Storm fell short in the NRL grand final, but it’s known that the breakaway league were extremely keen to add him to their books.
For now, Munster has recommitted to the Storm where he is signed until the end of 2027. He will be 33 when his current deal ends.
Interestingly, the year after, R360 is now earmarked to begin.
Could Munster be lured to union for one massive final payday in 2028?
The other player with ties to R360 is dual international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
It appeared a given RTS would be heading to the rebel competition, earning a huge pay packet before hanging the boots up.
Instead, he’ll play out the final year of his Warriors deal in 2026, with his agent advising against an R360 move before the launch date was delayed due to scant detail from organisers.
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