Melbourne Storm officials have defended Zac Lomax‘s character and have kept the door open for another attempt to sign the star winger after his proposed move from Parramatta fell over on Tuesday. A Supreme Court case slated for this week didn’t go ahead as planned after Lomax accepted that his immediate fate lay in Parramatta’s hands and Melbourne agreed to pay the Eels’ $250,000 legal costs.
The Eels also made a concession on their original deal to release Lomax from his four-year contract, meaning he can now return to the NRL in 2028 (rather than 2029) without Parramatta’s written consent. But Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp says it was a bitter pill to swallow for the club, the player and the game of rugby league, before hinting that they could attempt to sign him again in the future.
Melbourne Storm bosses have defended Zac Lomax’s character after their move to sign him from the Eels fell through. Pic: Getty
“Zac is a star player and quality person who will now remain on the sidelines until 2028,” Tripp said. “We hope to see Zac return to the NRL in the coming years and haven’t ruled out the prospect of Zac playing for the Melbourne Storm in the future. The way Zac has handled himself through this elongated process has been incredible and we wish him every success in whatever he decides to do in the coming years.”
Storm football boss Frank Ponissi – who worked with Lomax at Origin level for NSW – described the 26-year-old as a “wonderful” person. And he took aim at the way Lomax had been portrayed in some parts of the media, as a player who’d walked out on his last two NRL clubs.
Melbourne Storm bosses defend Zac Lomax’s character
“Disappointing for us, we’re not going to hide from it,” Ponissi told 2GB radio. “We really wanted Zac at our football club but I’m more disappointed for Zac himself, he’s been poorly portrayed in the media. I’ve got to know Zac working with him in Origin for the last few years… he’s a wonderful young man and it’s been a really tough period for him over the last couple of weeks.”
It’s understood the Storm were close to agreeing a deal to sign Lomax but it fell over because of unwanted Eels forward Ryan Matterson. Daily Telegraph league reporter David Riccio revealed Melbourne were willing to pay $410,000 of Matterson’s big-money contract at Parramatta, as well as a $300,000 payment to the Eels to secure Lomax.
Zac Lomax’s switch to Melbourne fell through after unwanted Eels forward Ryan Matterson refused an agreement to be part of the deal. Pic: Getty
The Storm’s offer for Matterson was reportedly for one year, with the option of a second. Matterson wanted the guarantee of a second year, which the Storm were unwilling to match and the deal fell through. Code Sports claims the Storm were stunned by Matterson’s stance after feeling like the club had “bent over backwards” to try and help resurrect his career.